62^4. — 


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MYCEN/E; 

A  NARRATIVE  OF  RESEARCHES  AND  DISCOVERIES 
AT  MYCENAE  AND  TIRYNS. 


By  DR.  HENRY  SCHLIEMANN, 

CITIZEN  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA  : 
AUTHOR  OF  'TROY  AND  ITS  REMAINS,'  '  ITHAQUE,  LB  PELOPONNESE  ET  TROIE,' 
AND  'LA  CHINE  ET  LE  JAPON.' 


THE  PREFACE 

BY  THE  RIGHT  HON.  W.  E.  GLADSTONE,  M.R 


MAPS,  PLANS,  AND  OTHER  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

REPRESENTING  MORE  THAN  700  TYPES  OF  THE  OBJECTS  FOUND  IN  THE 
ROYAL  SEPULCHRES  OF  MYCENM  AND  ELSEWHERE 
IN  THE  EXCA  VA  T/ONS. 


N  E  W  YORK: 
SCRIBNER,  ARMSTRONG  &  COMPANY. 

1878. 

[All  Rights  Reserved  ] 


Copyright,  1877. 
Scribner,  Armstrong  &  Co. 


Press  of 
Francis  Hart  &  Co. 


THE  GETTY  CENTER 
LIBRARY 


TO 

HIS  MAJESTY  DOM  PEDRO  II., 

EMPEROR  OF  BRAZIL, 
WITH  THE  PROFOUND  RESPECT  OF 
THE  AUTHOR. 


'Etti  8'  iySovirriaav  'A9nvait)  Te  koi  °Hp)) 
Tiyuwirai  fSaffiAva  TcoAv%pvaoio  WlvKr)vris. 

Hom.  77.  XI.  45,  46. 


Upbs  iifiwv 

icairireo-ev,  Ka.T8a.ve,  ■h/x^Ts  «al  /caToeatf/o/iec 

vEsch.  Agam.  1552-1554. 


''fi  toC  <STparr\yr\aavros  iv  Tpola  irort 
'  Ayafitfivovos  iraT,  vvv  iKeiv"  l£e<TTi  <roi 
irapcWi  \(v<r(T€iv,  3>v  irp6@vfi.os  ^(Tfl'  aef. 
Tb  yap  iraAatbv  "Kpyos  ovvoSets  ro5e, 
T7)?  oi(7TpoTrA.ri70s  aAtros  'lvaxo"  Ko'prjs  1 
auTTj  S',  'OpeVra,  tou  AuKOKT<ij'OU  0eoC 
'A70po  Auiceios  "    <5£>|  dpiirrepaj  8'  oSc 
"Upas  6  icAtivbs  va6s  '    oT  8'  i/caeojitec, 
4>ao-(C€iv  Muktjvos  Tas  ttoAuxP^ctous  6poj/  ■ 
iroAv(pdop({i'  T6  Soi/ia  neAoiriSaw  T<i5e. 

Sophocles,  Electra,  1-10. 


PRHFACi:. 


It  has  been  with  much  reluctance  that,  at  the  persevering 
request  of  Dr.  Schliemann,  I  have  undertaken  to  write 
a  Preface  to  his  Mycenean  volume.  I  have  managed 
perhaps,  though  with  long  intermissions  of  the  pleasant 
labour,  to  maintain  a  tolerable  acquaintance  with  the  text 
of  Homer;  and  the  due  establishment  of  the  points  of 
contact  between  that  text  and  the  remains  from  Mycenae  is 
without  question  one  of  the  essential  aims,  to  which  com- 
ment on  this  work  requires  to  be  addressed.  But  I  have 
a  horror  of  all  specialism  which  travels  beyond  its  proper 
province ;  and  in  this  matter  I  am  at  best  no  more  than  a 
specialist,  probably,  too,  not  one  of  very  high  pretensions. 
I  have  not  that  practised  skill,  that  comprehensive  outlook 
over  the  whole  field  of  Hellenic,  and  other  than  Hellenic 
archaeology,  which  has  conferred  upon  Mr.  Newton  his 
well-earned  fame.  The  just  conclusion  from  these  premises 
appears  to  be,  that  I  ought  to  have  declined  a  charge  quod 
jcrre  rccuscnl  humeri.*  But  there  was,  in  ancient  poetry,  a 
Destiny  stronger  than  the  will  of  gods.  To  me,  on  this 
occasion,  Dr.  Schliemann  is  the  vicegerent  and  organ  of 
that  Destiny.  In  view  of  the  splendid  services  which  he  has 
conferred  upon  classical  science,  a  power,  that  thrusts  argu- 
ment out  of  court,  brings  me  to  perceive,  that  I  cannot  but 
accede  to  his  desire.  I  have  however  given  the  reader 
fair  warning  where  and  why  he  should  be  on  his  guard  : 


*  Hor.  A.  P.  39. 


vi 


PREFACE. 


and  I  shall  make  all  the  use  I  can  of  the  landmarks  laid 
down  in  the  report  which  Mr.  Newton,  after  an  ocular 
inspection  of  these  remains,  published  in  the  Times  of 
April  20,  1877;  and  of  the  valuable  papers  of  Mr. 
Gardner  in  the  Academy  (April  21  and  28).  I  believe  that 
the  interest,  excited  by  Dr.  Schliemann's  discoveries,  has 
been  by  no  means  confined  to  classical  scholars.  I  shall 
therefore  endeavour  to  be  as  little  technical  as  possible,  and 
to  write,  so  far  as  may  be,  for  a  circle  wider  than  that  of 
the  persons  among  us  who  are  acquainted  with  the  Greek 
tongue. 

When  the  disclosures  at  Tiryns  and  Mycenae  were  an- 
nounced in  England,  my  own  first  impression  was  that  of  a 
strangely  bewildered  admiration,  combined  with  a  prepon- 
derance of  sceptical  against  believing  tendencies,  in  regard 
to  the  capital  and  dominating  subject  of  the  Tombs  in  the 
Agora.  I  am  bound  to  say,  that  reflection  and  a  fuller  know- 
ledge have  nearly  turned  the  scales  the  other  way.  There 
are  indeed,  not  only  gaps  to  be  supplied,  but  difficulties  to  be 
confronted,  and  to  be  explained  ;  or  to  be  left  over  for  future 
explanation.  Yet  the  balance,  I  will  not  say  of  evidence, 
but  of  rational  presumption,  seems  as  though  it  might 
ultimately  lean  towards  the  belief  that  this  eminent 
explorer  has  exposed  to  the  light  of  day,  after  3000  years, 
the  memorials  and  remains  of  Agamemnon  and  his  com- 
panions in  the  Return  from  Troy.  But  let  us  endeavour 
to  feel  our  way  by  degrees  up  to  this  question,  gradually 
and  with  care,  as  a  good  general  makes  his  approaches  to  a 
formidable  fortress. 

I  find,  upon  perusing  the  volume  of  Dr.  Schliemann, 
that  the  items  of  evidence,  which  connect  his  discoveries 
generally  with  the  Homeric  Poems,  are  more  nume- 
rous, than  I  had  surmised  from  the  brief  outline,  with 
which  he  favoured  us  upon  his  visit  to  England  in  the 
spring. 

i.  He  presents  to  us  the  rude  figures  of  cows;  and 


PREFACE. 


vii 


upon  a  signet  ring  (No.  531)  and  elsewhere,  cow-heads 
not  to  be  mistaken.  He  then  points  to  the  traditional 
worship,  from  the  first,  of  Hera  in  Argolis ;  and  he 
asks  us  to  connect  these  facts  with  the  use  of  Bobpis 
(cow-eyed)  as  a  staple  epithet  of  this  goddess  in  the 
Poems ;  and  he  might  add,  with  her  special  guardianship 
of  Agamemnon  in  his  interests  and  his  personal  safety 
(//.  I.  194-222). 

This  appears  to  me  a  reasonable  demand.  We  know 
that  upon  some  of  the  Egyptian  monuments  the  goddess 
Isis,  mated  with  Osiris,  is  represented  in  human  figure  with 
the  cow's  head.  This  was  a  mode  of  exhibiting  deity  con- 
genial to  the  spirit  of  an  Egyptian  immigration,*  such 
as  might,  compatibly  with  the  text  of  Homer,  have 
taken  place  some  generations  before  the  Tro'ica.  But 
it  was  also  a  mode  against  which  the  whole  spirit  of 
Hellenism,  according  to  the  authentic  type  of  that 
spirit  supplied  in  the  Poems,  utterly  revolted.  We  find 
there  a  Hera,  who  wore,  so  to  speak,  the  mantle  of  Isis, 
besides  carrying  the  spoils  of  one  or  more  personages 
enrolled  in  the  Golden  Book  of  the  old  Pelasgian  dynasties. 
Nothing  could  be  more  natural  than  a  decapitation  of  the 
Egyptian  Isis,  not  penally  but  for  her  honour  She  might 
consequently  appear  with  the  human  head  ;  but,  not  to  break 
sharply  with  the  traditions  of  the  people,  the  cow-head,  and 
even  the  cow  figure,  might  nevertheless  be  retained  as 
symbols  of  religion.  And  the  great  Poet,  who  invariably 
keeps  these  symbols  so  to  speak  at  arms'  length,  in  order 
that  he  may  prevent  their  disparaging  the  creed  of  which  he 
was  the  great  doctor,  might  nevertheless  select  from  the 
bovine  features  that  one  which  was  suited  to  his  purpose, 
and  give  to  his  Hera,  who  was  never  a  very  intellectual 

•  Since  this  Preface  was  put  in  type,  the  fragments  of  an  ostrich 
egg,  originally  mistaken  for  an  alabaster  vase,  have  been  tested  and 
verified.  This  object  seems  to  afford  a  new  indication  of  prehistoric 
relations  between  Mycence  and  Egypt. 


VUl 


PREFACE 


deity,  the  large  tranquil  eye  of  the  cow.  The  use  of  the 
epithet  for  Hera  in  Homei  is  not,  indeed,  exclusive,  and  I 
admit  that  he  may  have  inherited  that  use.  But,  though 
not  exclusive,  it  is  very  special ,  and  this  speciality  is 
enough  to  give  a  sensible  support  to  the  doctrine  of  our 
famous  explorer. 

2.  The  buildings  improperly  called  Cyclopean,  and 
still  more  improperly  endowed  with  the  alternative  name 
of  Pelasgian,  have  long  been  known,  more  or  less,  to 
exist  in  Ars;olis :  but  Dr.  Schliemann  has  thrown  some 
light  on  what  I  may  perhaps  be  allowed  to  call  their 
diversity  of  style.  He  admits  three  forms  found  in  this 
kind  of  building  I  have  objected  to  the  current  names, 
the  first  because  it  does  not  inform :  the  second  because  it 
misleads,  for  these  buildings  have  no  true  connection  with 
the  Pelaso;ian  tribes.  What  thev  indicate  is  the  handiwork 
of  the  great  constructing  race  or  races,  made  up  of  several 
elements,  who  migrated  into  Greece,  and  elsewhere  on  the 
Mediterranean,  from  the  south  and  east,  and  who  exhibit 
an  usual,  though  perhaps  not  an  invariable  connection 
with  the  Poseidon-worship ,  a  worship,  with  which  the 
Cyclopean  name  is,  through  the  Odyssey,  perceptibly 
associated,  and  which  is  one  of  the  main  keys,  as  I  have 
long  been  persuaded,  wherewith  in  time  to  unlock,  for 
Hellenic  and  Homeric  regions,  the  secrets  of  antiquity. 
The  walls  of  Troy  were  built  by  Poseidon ;  that  is,  by  a 
race  who  practised  the  worship  of  the  god  How  far  those 
walls  conform  to  any  of  the  minuter  points  of  the  descrip- 
tions of  '  Cyclopean '  architecture  by  Dr.  Schliemann, 
(pp.  42,  123),  I  cannot  say.  But  if  he  is  right,  as  seems 
probable,  in  placing  Troy  at  Hissarlik,  it  is  important  to 
notice  that  this  work  of  Poseidon  had  a  solidity,  which 
bore  it  unharmed  through  the  rage  of  fire,  and  kept  it 
well  together  amidst  all  the  changes  which  have  buried 
it  in  a  hill  of  rubbish  and  promiscuous  remains.  And 
of  course  the  modes,  used  by  the  very  same  race  in  the 


PREFACE. 


ix 


business  of  building,  could  not  but  vary  much  with  the 
circumstances  of  each  case,  and  especially  with  the  material 
at  hand.  I  am  tempted,  at  least  until  a  better  name  can  be 
found,  to  call  this  manner  of  building  Posejdonian  ;  at  any 
rate,  whatever  it  be  called,  to  note  it  as  a  point  of  correspon- 
dence between  the  Poems  and  the  discoveries,  admitting 
at  the  same  time  that  the  matter  is  not  sufficiently  de- 
veloped to  warrant  me  in  laying  upon  it  any  considerable 
stress. 

3.  The  beehive-like  building,  which  is  rather  loosely 
called  the  Treasury  of  Atreus,  presents  to  us  over  the 
doorway   (p.  43)   two    enormous    slabs,    one    of  them 
supposed  to  weigh  from  130  to  135  tons.     I  only  refer  to 
them  for  the  sake  of  reminding  the  reader  that,  as  I  think, 
we  must  be  prepared,  in  this  and  other  matters,  freely  to 
recognise  the  hand  of  the  foreigner  at  work ;  who  brought 
with  him  into  Greece  attainments,  not  to  be  despised,  of 
material  civilisation.  More  pointedly  I  wish  to  observe  that 
in  the  interior  of  the  Treasury,  from  the  fourth  course 
upwards,  there  are  visible  (p.  44)  in  each  stone  two  bored 
holes,  and  in  many  of  them  the  remains  of  '  bronze'  nails 
still  existing.     Similar  holes,  it  appears,  are  found  (p.  45) 
in  the  Treasury  of  Minyas  at  Orchomenos.    The  purpose 
of  these  nails,  says  our  author,  could  only  be  to  attach 
to  the  wall  what  in  one  place  he  calls  the  bronze,  and  in 
another  the  brazen  plates,  with  which  the  whole  interior 
was  once  decorated.    On  the  secondary  question,  what  was 
the  exact  material  employed,  let  me  here  observe  that  of 
brass  those  ages  knew  nothing,  and  that  bronze,  particularly 
in  that  stage  of  material  development,  was  wholly  unsuited 
for  sheeting.    But,  as  to  the  structural  point,  we  have  here 
a  remarkable  point  of  contact  with  the  Homeric  text. 
For  in  the  palace  of  Alkinoos,  king  of  the  Phaiakes,  a 
splendour  as  of  sun  or  moon  dazzled  the  eye,  for  the  walls 
were  of  chalkos  {Od.  VII.  86,  cited  p.  44).  which  I  hope 


1! 


X 


PREFACE. 


I  may  now  boldly  translate  copper  :  a  metal  unlike  bronze 
(a)  in  being  readily  malleable,  (6)  in  being  throughout  the 
Poems  most  usually  lustrous,  a  character  I  do  not  suppose 
we  should  assign  to  bronze.  On  the  other  hand,  the 
comparative  softness  of  copper  was  not  well  suited  for  the 
nails,  so  bronze  might  very  well  be  employed.  Nor  does 
this  conjunction  of  the  two  metals,  pure  and  mixed,  in 
the  same  work,  carry  us  away  from  the  text  of  Homer : 
for  his  wall-sheets  of  copper  in  Scherie  were  crowned  with 
a  cornice  of  his  dark  kuanos,  which  I  take  to  be  bronze. 
This  copper  sheeting  is  a  feature  of  the  supreme  Olym- 
pian Palace  (//.  I.  426,  Od.  VIII.  321),  built  by  Hephaistos 
of  the  skilful  mind.  I  think  I  could  show  that  it  also 
adorned  the  palaces  of  Menelaos  and  Odysseus,  and  could 
point  out,  moreover,  why  all  this  is  in  accordance  with  the 
distinctly  foreign  and  eastern  character  of  the  embellish- 
ment :  but  an  exhibition  of  the  evidence  would  lead  me 
into  too  great  length  ;  and  I  note  only  for  the  present 
purpose  the  remarkable  correspondence  of  the  archaeology 
with  the  Poems. 

4.  Passing  from  architectural  to  moveable  objects,  I 
observe  that  Dr.  Schliemann  found  both  knives  and  keys 
of  iron  in  Mycenae,  but  that  from  their  form  he  assigns 
them  to  a  later  and  strictly  historic  period.  Old  Mycenae, 
therefore,  in  accordance  with  Hissarlik,  has  afforded  us,  up 
to  the  present  time,  no  remains  of  this  metal.  In  the 
Poems  it  is  freely  mentioned,  but  as  a  rare  and  valuable 
substance,  used  where  great  hardness  was  required,  and  for 
objects  comparatively  small  and  portable;  except,  indeed, 
in  the  case  of  the  Gates  of  Tartaros  {II.  VIII  15),  where 
the  Poet  could  dispose  of  as  much  material  as  he  pleased. 
The  aggregate  quantity,  then,  was  small ;  and  the  instru- 
ments were  likely  to  be  carried  away  on  the  abandonment  or 
destruction  of  a  city.  Its  absence  may  therefore  be 
accounted  for,  in  part  by  its  value,  but  also,  and  more 


PREFACE. 


XI 


especially,  because  it  so  readily  corrodes.*  Therefore, 
although  we  cannot  here  establish  a  positive  correspond- 
ence, neither  have  we  any  occasion  to  admit  a  discrepancy. 

5.  Neither  need  we,  I  think,  suppose  any  variance 
between  the  chariot,  as  our  author  found  it  on  the  second 
toi-ibstone  of  the  Acropolis  (p.  84),  and  the  Homeric 
picture.  True,  he  finds  a  wheel  of  four  spokes,  and  the 
Olympian  car  of  Hera  had  eight  (//.  V.  723);  but  this 
diversity  of  structure  is  probably  introduced,  like  the 
diversity  of  material,  by  way  of  divine  distinction,  and  to 
show  the  superior  elaboration  and  strength  of  the  vehicle.* 

6.  We  have  at  Mycenae  the  Agora,  or  place  of 
Assembly,  in  full  agreement  with  the  Poems  on  the  two 
points,  first  of  its  circular  form  (pp.  338,  339),  and 
secondly  of  the  smoothed  horizontal  slabs,  bounding  the 
circle,  on  which  the  Elders  sate.  I  do  not  dilate  upon 
these,  as  they  are  fully  noticed  in  the  text :  but  I  shall 
return  to  the  subject,  in  connection  with  the  situation 
chosen  for  the  tombs,  and  the  inferences  which  are  to  be 
drawn  from  this  important  circumstance. 

I  will  now  hazard,  before  proceeding  further  with  my 
list,  one  or  two  general  remarks  on  the  works  of  art  and 
ornament,  referring  again  to  the  reports  of  Mr.  Newton 
and  Mr.  Gardner,  as  the  most  trustworthy  comment  on 
the  text  of  our  author  concerning  them. 

First,  I  have  to  offer  some  reflections  on  the  general 


*  In  the  remarkable  Museum  of  the  Royal  Academy  of  Ireland  are 
two  swords  referred  to  the  Danish  period,  which  were  taken  out  of  a 
bed  of  mud.  After  a  repose  of  perhaps  a  thousand  years,  they  do  not 
exhibit  corrosion  to  the  common  eye.  But  the  case  is  considered 
exceptional,  and  probably  due  to  some  peculiar  ingredient  in  the 
moisture. 

t  I  do  not  think  it  proved  that,  as  Schliemann  seems  to  convey 
(p  84)  the  chariot-box  was  removed  and  fastened  on  each  occasion  of 
usin-  it.  The  passages  in  //.  XXIV.  190  and  267  refer  to  the  petrtns 
of  the  waggon.  In  Od.  XV.  131,  it  is  simply  mentioned  as  a  portion  of 
the  carriage,  with  no  reference  to  detaching  it. 


xii 


PREFACE. 


character  of  the  discoveries,  and  on  its  relation  to  the  state 
of  Art  exhibited  in  the  Poems.  It  seems  reasonable 
to  believe,  especially  after  what  has  been  shown  by 
Mr.  Gardner  respecting  the  four  tombstones,  that  they 
constituted  the  contemporary  seal  of  a  great  deposit.  It 
results,  I  think,  from  the  evidence  before  us  that  it  is 
impossible  to  reduce  to  one  school  or  style  or  stage  of 
art  the  whole  of  the  objects  exhumed.  But  on  this  I 
would  observe  first  that,  although  they  were  simulta- 
neously deposited  in  honour  of  the  dead,  they  might  have 
been  the  productions  of  more  than  one  generation : 
secondly,  that  not  only  are  we  not  required,  but,  in  so 
far  as  we  draw  light  from  the  Homeric  Poems,  we  are 
hardly  permitted,  to  refer  them  collectively  to  a  domestic 
origin. 

I  gather  from  Mr.  Gardner's  report  that  the  Art 
exhibited  on  the  Pottery  is  more  uniformly  backward, 
than  that  exhibited  by  the  works  of  metal.  But  this 
pottery,  which  was,  whether  wheel- made  or  hand-made,  of 
an  early  stage  in  the  manufacture,  was  far  more  likely  to  be 
domestic  ;  while  the  works  in  the  precious  metals  might  be 
imported.  Or  they  might  be  the  productions  of  foreign 
artists,  attracted  to  the  Court  of  Agamemnon ;  in  the 
same  manner  as  we  find  that  Daidalos,  whose  name,  how- 
ever mythical,  represents  a  foreign  influence,  executed  in 
Crete,  for  Ariadne,  the  representation  of  a  dance  in 
metal. 

The  discovery,  or  the  inspection,  of  the  works  must 
without  doubt  in  the  first  instance  suggest  a  reference  of 
them  to  a  local  school  of  goldsmiths.  But,  considering 
the  numerous  points  of  contact  between  the  discoveries 
and  the  Homeric  Poems,  it  is  important  to  know  whether, 
and  how  far,  they  really  favour  such  a  supposition.  This  is 
not  the  place  for  an  examination  in  detail  of  all  the  works 
of  Art  mentioned  by  Homer.  I  believe  there  is  no  one 
of  them,  of  which  the  purely  Greek  origin  can  be  esta- 


PREFACE. 


xiii 


blished  by  proof  from  the  text,  while  the  manufacture 
abroad  and  importation  are  frequently  mentioned.  At  the 
same  time,  there  are  some  considerations  which  tend  to 
show  that,  if  there  were  local  workmen  in  Greece  capable 
of  producing  objects  such  as  those  now  exhumed,  it  is  at 
Mycenae  that  we  should  expect  to  find  them.  First,  on 
account  of  the  wealth  of  the  city,  and  of  its  position  as  the 
capital  of  the  country.  Secondly,  on  account  of  the 
wealth  of  Agamemnon  personally,  and  his  acquisitiveness 
if  not  his  avarice,  which  made  him  eager  to  spoil  those 
whom  his  spear  had  slain,  and  which  is  the  subject  of 
varied  allusions  in  the  Iliad.  It  must  be  remembered  that 
in  those  days  works  of  art  were  not  merely  ornamental, 
but  were  a  favourite  form,  as  their  name  (keimelia)  shows, 
of  stored  wealth :  and  of  these,  even  in  Troas,  Aga- 
memnon possessed  many  (//.  IX.  330).  Thirdly,  an  indi- 
cation, perhaps,  more  significant,  may  be  drawn  from  the 
remarkable  passage  in  the  Eleventh  Book  (15-46),  which 
describes  the  arming  of  Agamemnon  for  the  field.  The 
first  portion  of  the  armour,  that  attracts  observation,  is  an 
elaborately  wrought  breast-plate,  which  had  come  from 
Cyprus,  a  seat  of  Phoenician  settlement.  We  next  come 
to  the  sword,  which  I  shall  presently  describe.  This  is 
followed  by  the  shield,  adorned  with  many  bosses  of 
metal,  but  also  carrying  a  representation  of  the  Gorgon 
with  the  heads  or  figures  of  Fear  and  Panic.  This  shield 
must  be  considered  as  a  work  of  art  5  and  the  same  may 
be  said  of  its  band  or  strap,  which  carried  the  figure  of  a 
three-headed  snake.  There  is  nothing  said  to  connect 
these  works  with  foreign  manufacture.  The  family  ot 
Agamemnon  was  of  a  foreign  origin  comparatively  recent ; 
but  it  may  remain  an  open  question,  whether  these  arms 
are  presumptively  referable,  or  not,  to  a  domestic  manu- 
facture. 

The  deposits  appear,  again,  to  differ  extremely  in  point  of 
merit.    I  set  aside  the  objects  directly  symbolical,  because, 


XIV 


PREFACE. 


where  religion,  or  idolatry,  is  in  question,  excellence  in 
workmanship  becomes  secondary,  or  even  ceases  to  be 
desired.  Among  the  other  objects,  I  gather  that  none 
exhibit  a  very  high  order  of  technical  qualities.  But,  if 
we  may  rely  upon  photographic  representation,  they  surely 
exhibit  lively  and  forcible  movement,  as  well  as  many 
of  the  elements  of  nobleness,  beauty,  and  fertility  of 
invention  ;  particularly  in  ornamentation,  as  distinguished 
from  the  representation  of  life,  either  animal  or  vegetable. 
Some  of  this  diversity  may  be  due  to  difference  of  date ; 
some,  perhaps  much,  to  the  superiority  of  the  immigrant 
hand,  or  of  imported  works.  That  there  were  foreigners 
resident  in  Greece  at  the  time  of  the  Tro'ica,  we  have  every 
reason  to  infer  from  one  conspicuous  case,  that  of  Eche- 
polos,  a  son  of  Anchises,  who  was  allowed  to  present  the 
mare  Aithe  to  Agamemnon,  as  the  price  of  his  exemption 
(//.  XXIII.  296)  from  service  against  Troy.  If  there  be 
anywhere  in  the  Poems  an  account  of  a  work  of  art  produced 
in  Greece  or  by  a  Greek,  it  is  the  bedstead  of  Odysseus,* 
wrought  by  himself  (Od.  XXIII.  190-201);  and  to  him, 
after  a  good  deal  of  consideration,  I  am  inclined  to  ascribe 
a  close  connection  with  the  immigrant  or  Phoenician  stock; 
though  this  representation  might  also  be  due  to  his  un- 
equalled versatility  and  universality  of  accomplishment. 
There  was  indeed  a  Chrusochoos  or  gold-plater  at  the  Court 
of  Nestor  {Od.  III.  425)  ;  but  the  very  same  man  goes  by 
the  name  of  Chalkcus  or  coppersmith  {Ibid.  III.  43  2).  And  it 
would  even  seem  that  working  in  metals  cannot  have  been 
a  principal  or  prominent  employment  in  an  Achaian  com- 
munity, for  no  such  person  is  named  in  the  remarkable 


*  Ikmalios  is  mentioned  in  Od.  XIX.  57  as  the  maker  of  a  chair 
inlaid  with  ivory  and  silver.  I  cannot  doubt  that  this  was  foreign,  since 
it  is  marked  as  the  work  of  a  former  age:  ttotc  tcktwv  TroL-qa  'lK/xaA.ios, 
"which  erewhile  lkmalion  with  cunning  hand  had  made"  (Norgate). 
'  Erewhile '  will  not  be  found  in  Todd  or  Latham  :  but  it  is  in  Shake- 
speare, and  the  Dictionary  of  Worcester  and  Webster  contains  it. 


PREFACE. 


XV 


passage  of  the  Odyssey  (XVII.  384)  which  supplies 
a  sort  of  list,  and  where  the  wood-worker,  or  carpenter, 
appears. 

The  list  of  these  objects,  and  of  their  ornaments,  is  on  the 
whole  richer  and  more  diversified  than  the  Pcems,  with  the 
exception  of  the  famous  Shield  of  Achilles,  would  have  led  us 
to  expect.  Possibly  a  knowledge  of  the  Mycenean  treasures 
may  have  prompted  or  aided  a  vigorous  imagination,  in  that 
wonderful  anticipation  of  excellences  which  had  not  been 
realized  in  practice.  The  most  remarkable  feature,  I  think, 
of  all  Homer's  delineations  of  art  is  the  force  and  reality 
with  which  he  confers  animation  on  things  inanimate.  And 
perhaps  the  eye  may  be  struck,  in  examining  Schliemann's 
illustrations,  with  the  vigour  of  life  and  motion  which  asserts 
itself  in  many  of  the  Mycenean  works,  where  the  delineation 
is  technically  most  imperfect.  But  we  cannot  compare  the 
text  with  these  remains  alone ;  we  are  bound  also  to  avail 
ourselves  of  such  light  as  can  be  had  from  Ilissarlik,  what 
ever  its  effect  upon  our  prepossessions  or  our  arguments. 
Now  I,  for  one,  am  struck  with  the  wealth  of  Mycenae,  and 
the  comparative  poverty  of  what  is  probably  Troy.  I  do  not 
mean  merely  as  to  the  small  number  of  valuable  remains, 
for  this  may  be  due  to  chance  ;  though,  indeed,  fortune,  for 
once  renouncing  her  caprice,  seems  in  both  cases  to  have 
obeyed  the  dictates  of  archaeological  justice,  and  to  have 
treated  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Schliemann  as  her  favourite  children. 
But  I  mean  that  there  is  far  less  of  luxe  in  the  ornamenta- 
tion of  the  works  at  Hissarlik  ;  I  might,  perhaps,  say  no 
representation  at  all  of  life,  except  in  the  rudest  and  most 
barbarous  form.  There  seem  to  be  very  good  forms  in  the 
gold  and  silver  objects  of  Ilissarlik,  but  always  associated 
with  plain  work  ,  no  animal  or  even  vegetable  representation 
calling  for  notice  from  the  present  point  of  view,  none  of 
the  repousse  work,  nothing  resembling  the  (apparently) 
beautiful  cylinder  (p.  287),  or  the  elaborate  rings  photo- 
graphed in  this  volume     How  are  we  to  account  for  this  ? 


XVI 


PREFACE. 


And  does  an  argument  hence  arise,  that  the  Hissarlik  remains 
belong  to  a  period  different  from,  and  anterior  to,  that 
which  produced  the  works  at  Mycenae  ?  That  the  adverse 
case  may  be  made  as  strong  as  possible,  let  it  be  borne  in 
mind  that  while  Homer  indicates  Orchomenos,  and  above 
all  Egyptian  Thebes,  as  the  wealthiest  cities  of  his  little 
world,  he  seems  designedly  to  assign  the  very  same  stage  of 
opulence  to  Troy,  which  he  gives  to  Mycenae  ;  for  he 
describes  by  one  and  the  same  epithet,  poluchrusos,  which 
means  gold-abounding,  these  two  cities  and  these  two  alone. 
Troy  has  it  in  //.  XVIII.  289.  For  Mycenae  it  was 
almost  a  formula;  see  //.VII.  180,  XI.  46;  Od.  III.  305. 

We  have  now  before  us,  as  is  not  improbable,  the 
choicest  samples  of  what  the  two  cities  had  to  boast  of ; 
and  the  question  is,  can  we  account  for  the  difference  in 
opulence,  and  stage  of  art,  between  them  ?  I  conceive  that 
we  can,  at  least  in  a  considerable  degree  ;  but  it  is  only  by 
that  acknowledgment,  which  some  are  still  indisposed  to 
make,  of  the  broad  vein  of  historic  reality,  that  runs 
through  the  delineations  of  the  Iliad  and  Odyssey. 

Three  passages  of  the  Iliad,  in  particular,  convey  to  us 
that  the  city  of  Troy  was  suffering  great  impoverishment 
by  the  War.  Indeed,  if  there  be  a  grain  of  fact  in  the  tale, 
it  could  not  be  otherwise.  For  the  means  of  resisting  the 
truly  national  attack  of  the  Achaians,  she  was  dependent 
neither  on  a  good  cause,  nor  on  a  soldiery  commensurate 
with  theirs.  She  had  to  seek  strength  from  without ;  first 
from  the  grudging  support  of  Dardania,  secondly  from  the 
neighbouring  tribes  both  of  Europe  and  of  Asia.  It  might 
even  be  inferred  from  the  text  that  nine -tenths  of  the 
fighting  power  (//.  II.  12,3-33)  were  other  than  strictly 
domestic.  But  this  support  from  without  could  only 
be  got  by  paying  for  it.  Accordingly  Hector,  in  the 
Seventeenth  Book  speaks  with  the  authority  (220-32)  of 
a  general  addressing  allies,  who  are  duly  compensated  for 
their  services.    So  also  we  know  that  the  great  Eurupulos 


PREFACE. 


xvii 


and  his  Keteians,*  or  Hittites  {Od.  XI.  5 20),  fall  in  numbers 
on  the  plains  of  Troy,  "  serving  for  gifts."  "  I  wear  out 
the  Trojans,"  says  Hector,  "  with  presents  and  with 
victualling  for  you."  Again  in  the  Twenty-fourth  Book, 
Achilles,  compassionately  addressing  Priam,  says,  "  We 
hear  that  you  once  were  prosperous,  and  exceeded  in  wealth, 
as  well  as  in  the  number  of  your  sons,  all  the  neighbouring 
countries"  (543-6).  The  inference  is  obvious;  that  at  the 
time,  though  the  city  had  not  been  captured,  it  was  becom- 
ing comparatively  poor.  But  the  most  express  testimony 
is  that  of  //.  XVIII.  288-92,  when  Hector  stimulates  his 
countrymen  to  sally  out,  by  reminding  them  that  they  are 
already  well-nigh  ruined.  Once,  he  says,  all  men  were 
wont  to  celebrate  the  wealth  of  Troy ;  "  but  now  the  fine 
valuables  have  utterly  disappeared  from  our  mansions." 

vvv  8t  8r)   i£air6\u>\e  86/xuiv  K€t/xr;A.ia  (caAa- 

And,  under  the  wrath  of  Zeus,  multitudes  of  their  possessions 
had  been  sent  in  exchange  to  Phrygia  and  Maconia ;  in 
exchange,  that  is,  as  I  presume,  for  necessaries.  But  the 
great  Mycenean  deposit,  if  Schliemann  be  right  in  his  view, 
was  made  before  the  time  of  any  sack  or  depopulation 
of  the  city.  Upon  such  an  issue  of  life  and  death,  as  that 
offered  to  the  Trojans,  the  best  objects  would  naturally  be 
parted  with,  as  the  most  effective  for  their  purpose  (see 
//.  XXIV.  234-7);  and  accordingly,  if  we  are  comparing 
Troy  and  Mycenae  at  all,  we  are  comparing  Troy  in  its 
exhaustion  with  Mycenae  in  its  prosperity. 

We  have  among  the  remains  in  the  precious  metals 
from  Hissarlik,  I  believe,  no  representation  of  an  animal, 
either  chased  or  in  the  round.  But  the  Poems  give  us 
several  examples  of  such  works  in  the  possession  of  Greeks; 


*  'Homeric  Synchronism,'  pp.  171  scq.  I  do  not  here  enter  on 
the  curious  question  what  is  the  precise  meaning  of  ywala  Sd»pa. 


c 


XV111 


PREFACE. 


though  commonly  under  presumptions  of  foreign  produc- 
tion, as  it  would  not  be  difficult  to  show. 

It  is  true,  indeed,  that  Troy,  in  immediate  contact  with 
the  large  fertile  districts  of  Asia  Minor,  had  means  of 
material  growth  by  land-trade,  which  Greece,  split  by 
her  mountain  chains  into  comparatively  narrow  tracts  of 
cultivable  soil,  did  not  possess.  But  it  seems  likely  that 
even  in  those  days  the  maritime  commerce,  stimulated  by 
Phoenician  ships  and  settlements,  may  have  compensated, 
or  more  than  compensated,  for  this  disadvantage.  Of  the 
trade  in  metals  and  in  corn,  carried  on  by  their  race,  we 
have  distinct  information  in  the  Poems  (Od.  I.  183-4, 
XIV.  2,32,-$).  They  had,  in  all  likelihood,  already  been 
followed  by  the  Greeks.  The  voyage  of  the  ship  Argo 
seems  to  have  been  of  a  mixed  character.  The  ships  of 
the  armament  against  Troy  could  hardly  have  been  supplied 
by  a  people,  who  had  not  made  a  substantial  beginning 
in  maritime  trade.  The  navigation  of  the  coasts,  without 
reference  to  purposes  of  war,  is  evidently  a  familiar  idea  in 
the  Odyssey.  But,  in  the  Iliad,  the  construction  of  the 
ships  of  Paris  is  noted  as  the  remarkable  work  of  a  remark- 
able man  (//.  V.  59-64)  ;  nor  do  we,  except  in  this  one 
ill-omened  case,  ever  hear  of  Trojan  navigation. 

Once  more.  We  are  given  to  understand  *  that  signs 
of  the  art  of  writing  have  been  discovered  at  Hissarlik  ; 
whereas  the  new  volume  supplies  us  with  nothing  of  the 
kind  for  Mycenae.  But  nothing,  I  apprehend,  can  be 
affirmed  of  its  existence  either  in  Greece  or  Troas  during 
the  Homeric  age,  except  as  the  secret  of  a  few  ;  in  Greece 
it  was  manifestly  exotic,  and  perhaps  it  may  have  been 
the  same  in  Troas.  As  long  as  the  evidence  remains  in 
this  state,  we  cannot  infer  from  it  with  confidence  any 
important  proposition  as  to  comparative  advancement. 

I  now  resume  the  list  of  points  of  contact  between  the 


*  'Troy  and  its  Remains,'  pp.  369,  371. 


PREFACE. 


XIX 


Mycenean  discoveries  and  the  Poems,  by  noticing  such  of 
them  as  are  found  in  movables. 

i .  As  the  first  of  these  I  take  the  free  use  of  copper 
for  large  utensils  (pp.  274-277).  We  have  also  the  analysis 
supplied  by  Dr.  Percy  of  a  sword  and  a  vase-handle  of 
bronze  (pp.  372-5).  In  my  judgment,  we  have  no  sign 
whatever  from  the  Poems  of  the  fusion  of  metals  together 
as  a  domestic  practice ;  while  we  have  abundant  proof  of  the 
importation  and  foreign  production  of  works  of  art  and 
implements  in  bronze.  This  vase,  then,  may  probably 
have  been  foreign.  The  same  is  likely  with  respect  to  the 
sword.  We  know  that  swords  were  exported  and  imported 
between  different  countries.  Thrace  was  a  seat  of  manu- 
facture both  for  fine  works  of  art  (//.  XXIV.  234)  and 
for  weapons  (77.  XXIII.  808) :  and  we  find  a  sword, 
"  beautiful  and  long,"  from  Thrace,  in  the  possession  of 
the  Trojan  Prince  Ilelenos  (77.  XIII.  577).  Moreover, 
copper  was  an  abundant  metal,  tin  a  rare  one.  Bronze 
weapons,  therefore,  must  have  been  expensive.  And  the 
swords  of  bronze  found  in  the  tombs,  in  conjunction  with 
all  other  costly  objects,  are  just  where  we  should  have 
expected  them.  Even  so  at  Ilissarlik,  two  battle-axes 
found  in  the  Treasure,  and  presumably  belonging  therefore 
to  distinguished  persons,  were  of  bronze*  But  axes  made 
of  pure  copper  may  be  seen  in  the  Museum  of  the  Irish 
Academy  ;  and  the  great  layer  of  copper-scoriae  at  His- 
sarlik,  without  any  tin,  seems  effectually  to  show  that  copper 
was  the  staple  metal  of  the  heroic  period,  and  that  our 
archaeologists  will  have  to  insert  a  copper  age  in  their  lists, 
between  their  age  of  stone  and  their  age  of  bronze.  It 
weapons  of  copper  were  to  be  discovered  in  the  tombs  at 
Mycemr,  no  circumstance  could  more  enhance  the  proofs 
afforded  by  the  Poems  of  the  general  use  of  copper; 


*  'Troy  and  its  Remains,'  p.  361.  One  of  these  had  only  about 
four  per  cent,  of  tin.    Could  this  have  been  a  native  admixture  ? 


XX 


PREFACE. 


because  the  weapons  in  the  tombs  are  weapons  of  the 
persons  most  likely  to  be  able  to  command  the  use  of 
bronze.  I  hope  that  the  analysis,  already  begun,  will  be 
applied  to  a  much  larger  number  of  objects.  In  the  mean- 
time, as  to  large  utensils,  I  find  the  discoveries  already  in 
close  correspondence  with  the  Poems. 

i.  The  most  remarkable,  perhaps,  in  themselves,  of  all 
the  objects  discovered  at  Hissarlik,  were  the  two  elaborate 
head-dresses  of  gold,  which  for  the  first  time  enabled  us  to 
construe,  with  reasonable  confidence,  the  entire  passage  in 
the  Iliad  (XXII.  468-72),  which  describes  the  head-dress 
cast  away  by  Andromache  in  the  agony  of  her  grief.  The 
print  will  not  have  been  forgotten,  which  exhibits  the plekte 
anadesme*  It  was  a  series  of  gold  plaits,  hanging  down, 
over  the  forehead  and  the  ears,  from  the  broad  band 
(ampftx)  which  ran  round  the  head,  and  which  constituted 
as  it  were  the  base  of  the  ornament.  With  these  objects, 
and  with  the  Poems,  Schliemann  associates,  incontestably  as 
it  would  appear,  the  ornament  No.  357  (p.  248) ;  a  band  or 
frontlet  adorned  "  with  rosettes  and  crosses.  It  has  two 
perforations  in  the  rim,  a  little  way  from  either  end,  from 
one  of  which  is  still  hanging  the -fragment  of  a  very  fine 
chain."  The  only  variation  in  the  fashion  of  the  thing 
seems  to  be,  that  the  plaits  have  not  been  continued  over 
the  forehead. 

0.  Hissarlik  did  nothing  for  us  towards  explaining  the 
kredcmnon;  an  article  of  head-dress  worn  by  many  or 
some  women  of  the  heroic  age,  who  could  not  add  to  it  the 
splendid  decorations  then  reserved  for  princesses.  But  the 
definitions  of  this  commodity  are  supplied  for  us  by  the 
Poems,  piecemeal  indeed,  yet  with  adequate  clearness.  In 
the  first  place,  it  crowned  the  head  like  the  battlements 
of  a  walled  city ;  for  the  destruction  of  the  walls  of  Troy  is 
described  as  the  ruin  of  its  sacred  kredemna  (II.  XVI.  100). 


*  '  Troy  and  its  Remains,'  p.  335. 


PREFACE. 


XXI 


It  was  not,  however,  a  metallic  or  solid  object;  for  the 
deified  I  no,  to  save  Odysseus  from  the  fury  of  the  storm, 
throws  to  him  her  own  kredemnon  and  bids  him  bind  it 
round  his  chest  (Od.  V  346).  It  used  to  be  made  of 
delicate  and  glossy  material  {Od.  1.  334),  and  was  worthy 
even  to  be  a  marriage  gift  from  Aphrodite  to  the  bride  of 
Hector  (//.  XXII.  470).  But  finally,  it  had  a  long  wing, 
tail,  or  lappet  (I  am  not  skilled  or  confident  in  this  voca- 
bulary), descending  from  behind,  perhaps  more  than  one. 
This  is  shown  indirectly,  but  I  think  conclusively,  by  the 
information  given  us  in  Od.  VI.  100,  that  the  handmaidens 
of  Nausicaii,  when  about  to  play  at  ball,  first  put  away  their 
/eredemna,  evidently  lest  the  free  movement  of  their  arms 
should  be  embarrassed  by  the  long  lappets.  Again,  it  is 
evident  that  Pcnelojx\  when  she  used  her  kredemna  to 
cover  her  face,  brought  the  lappets  round  and  employed 
them  as  a  veil ;  on  any  other  ground  the  use  of  the  plural 
can  hardly  be  explained  (Od.  I.  334).  And  now  this  part 
of  the  prehistoric  lady's  toilette  is  as  complete  as  I  can 
make  it  from  the  Poems. 

I  turn,  then,  to  Dr.  Schliemann's  volume,  and  call 
attention  to  the  signet  ring  at  p.  354,  which,  though 
apparently  not  of  a  high  order  in  art,  combines  so  many 
objects  of  interest.  On  the  extreme  left  of  the  picture 
stands  a  child,  or  small  woman,  who  is  picking  fruit  from 
a  tree.  Behind  her  head  appear  to  descend  long  tresses  of 
hair.  What  if  these  should  prove  on  further  examination 
to  be  lappets  from  a  head-dress  which  the  head  seems  to 
carry  ?  Passing  to  the  right  of  the  tree,  first  comes  a  tall 
seated  woman  in  a  turban,  which  carries  in  front,  says  our 
author,  a  diadem  and  behind  a  "  tress  of  hair "  from  the 
point  into  which  the  turban  runs.  I  cannot  but  suppose 
this  "  tress "  to  be  a  lappet  of  the  kredemnon.  She  offers 
poppies  to  another  tall  woman,  again  dressed  in  a  turban 
running  out  into  a  point  (p.  356),  "from  which  a  long 
ornament  hangs  down  on  the  back ,"  a  third  time,  in  all 


XXII 


PREFACE. 


likelihood,  the  lappet  of  the  kredemnon.  Below  her  out- 
stretched light  arm  we  have  another  small  figure,  probably 
of  a  child,  again  in  a  turban,  and  with  "  a  long  tress  of 
hair,  or  some  ornament,  hanging  down  its  back : "  yet  once 
more,  I  conjecture,  the  lappet  indicated  by  Homer.  There 
is  also  a  fifth  :  we  have  still  the  figure  to  the  right  of  the 
picture  (p.  357)  ;  and  she,  too,  wears  a  turban  terminating  in 
a  point  "  from  which  a  long  band-like  ornament  hangs 
down  on  her  back."  Now  let  us  go  aloft ;  and  we  find  a 
small  figure,  towards  the  right  of  the  picture.  This  figure 
(P-  357)  1S  described  by  Schliemann  as  female,  from  his 
observing  breasts  upon  it :  and  again,  "  from  the  back 
project  the  long  bands."  Thus,  in  all  the  six  cases,  we 
appear  to  have  the  same  remarkable  form  described  for  the 
main  article  of  female  head-dress,  which  is  also  given  us  by 
Homer. 

It  may,  however,  be  said  that  the  female  figures  on 
this  ring  are  foreign,  rather  than  Hellenic,  in  their 
character  and  habiliments.  But  it  happens  that  the 
evidence  of  the  Poems  more  copiously  establishes  the  use 
of  the  kredemnon  among  foreigners,  than  in  Greece.  We 
hear  indeed  of  the  kredemna  of  Penelope ;  and  Hera, 
when  about  to  inveigle  Zeus,  assumes  the  kredemnon 
{II.  XIV.  184).  But  it  is  worn,  as  we  have  seen,  by 
Andromache  in  Troy ;  by  Ino,  a  deity  of  Phoenician 
extraction ;  and  by  the  maidens  attendant  on  Nausicaa  in 
Scherie. 

4.  In  the  upper  region,  or  what  we  might  call  the  sky 
of  the  picture,  are  presented  to  us,  apparently  in  very 
rough  outline,  the  sun  and  a  thinly  horned  moon.*  Below 


*  I  wish  here  to  call  attention  to  the  fact  that,  as  always  (I  believe) 
in  the  Egyptian  and  Assyrian  monuments,  the  moon  is  on  this  ring  also 
distinguished  from  the  sun,  not  by  its  size,  but  by  its  being  a  crescent 
moon.  In  truth,  the  distinction  of  size,  to  the  common  eye,  is  variable  ; 
and  is  sometimes  against  the  sun.  Two  full-formed  globes  of  equal 
diameter  would  have  presented  a  picture  alike  defective  in  composition 


PREFACE.  xx[\i 

them  is  an  uneven  band,  forming  rudely  an  arc  of  a  circle. 
This,  I  am  led  to  suppose,  is  an  indication  of  mother-earth, 
with  its  uneven  surface  of  land  and  its  rippling  sea,  in 
the  proper  place,  beneath  the  sun  and  moon.  If  this  be 
so,  it  greatly  confirms  the  conjecture  of  Mr.  Newton  re- 
specting the  six  objects  on  the  rim  of  the  picture  to  the 
right.  He  asks  whether  these  can  be  the  teirca  {II. 
XVIII.  485),  the  stars  of  heaven,  which  are  described  by 
Homer  as  placed  upon  the  Shield  of  Achilles,  together 
with  the  sun,  moon,  sky,  earth,  and  sea.  Schliemann 
assigns  to  this  sestctto  heads  and  eyes :  Mr.  Newton  says 
they  are  thought  to  be  heads  of  lions.  That  they  should 
be  things  animate  is  not,  I  imagine,  in  conflict  with  the 
conjecture  that  they  may  be  stars.  The  spirit  of 
Hellenism  transmuted  the  older  Nature-worship  by  imper- 
sonations, of  which  we  have  an  Homeric  example  in  the 
astral  Orion  (//.  XVIII.  486,  Od.  XI.  572).  Should 
these  conjectures  be  confirmed,  the  matter  will  be  of 
peculiar  interest :  for  we  shall  then  have  before  us,  in 
actual  collocation,  the  very  objects,  which  people  the  first 
compartment  of  the  god-wrought  Shield  of  Achilles:  the 
earth  (of  land  and  sea),  sun,  moon,  and  all  the  stars  of 
heaven.  The  ouranos  or  heaven  itself,  which  the  Poet 
also  includes,  is  here  in  all  likelihood  represented  by  the 
curvature  of  the  picture. 

5.  The  goblet  (No.  346  of  the  volume)  has  on  each  of 
its  two  handles,  we  are  told,  the  carved  figure  of  a  dove  in 
gold.  Schliemann  observes  on  the  correspondence  with  the 
goblet  of  Nestor  (//.  XI.  632-635).    We  are  not  indeed 


and  in  meaning  :  and  ancient  art,  not  content  with  this,  seized,  more 
poetically  as  I  think,  upon  the  distinction  of  character  in  the  two  bodies 
respectively.  Homer,  as  I  contend,  has  exactly  followed  this  form  of 
representation  in  his  atX.r'ivrjv  re  TrXrjOowdv :  and  I  venture  to  hope  that 
the  sense  of  growing,  filling,  waxing,  or  crescent  moon  will  now  be 
allowed  to  prevail  over  the  more  customary  rendering  of  '  full '  moon 
(//.  XVIII.  434). 


XXIV 


PREFACE. 


told  that  this  was  of  gold ;  probably  a  different  material  is 
to  be  supposed  from  the  mention  of  gold  as  the  material  of 
these  parts  or  appendages.  But  it  had  four  handles,  and 
on  each  handle  were  two  doves.  We  are  also  told  that  he 
did  not  get  it  in  Troy,  which  may  remind  us  of  the  argu- 
ment already  presented,  but  brought  it  from  home.  It 
was  probably  a  foreign  work;  for  the  Phoenician  associa- 
tions of  Nestor  are  attested  by  his  descent  from  Poseidon 
(Od.  XI.  254).  This  is  fairly  to  be  noted  for  an  instance 
of  equable  development  in  art,  as  between  the  discoveries 
and  the  Poems. 

6.  We  frequently  hear  in  the  Poems  of  the  golden 
studs  or  buttons  which  were  used  as  ornamental  adjuncts. 
In  many  passages  we  have  the  silver-studded  sword,  xiphos 
or  phasganon  arguroelon  {II.  II.  45,  III.  334  et  al.)  This, 
I  say,  is  common.  We  have  also  studs,  or  bosses,  of  gold 
upon  the  staff  or  sceptre  of  Achilles  (//.  I.  246),  upon  the 
cup  of  Nestor  XL  632-635  :  and  upon  a  sword,  only  once 
it  is  true,  but  then  that  sword  is  the  sword  of  Agamemnon, 
king  of  gold-abourtding  Mycenae  (II.  XI.  29).  On  this 
sword,  says  the  Poet,  there  were  gilt,  or  golden,  bosses ;  and 
the  expression  he  uses  about  them  (pamphainon)  is  worthy 
of  note.  It  is  not  easy  to  represent  by  any  one  English 
word.  It  means  not  merely  shining  brightly,  but  shining 
all  over ;  that  is  to  say,  apparently,  all  over  the  sheath  to 
which  they  were  attached,  so  as  to  make  it  seem  a  shining 
mass.  Is  not  this  precisely  what  must  have  been  the  effect 
of  the  line  of  bosses  found  lying  by  the  sword  in  p.  303, 
which  lie  closely  together,  are  broader  than  the  blade, 
and  probably  covered  the  whole  available  space  along  the 
sheath  of  wood,  now  mouldered  away  ?  And  is  it  not  now 
startling,  to  descend  into  the  tombs  with  Dr.  Schliemann, 
and  to  find  there  lying  silently  in  rows  these  gold  studs  or 
bosses,  when  the  wooden  sheaths  they  were  attached  to  have 
for  the  most  part  mouldered  away,  but  by  the  very  sides 
of  the  very  swords  which  they  adorned  like  binding  on  a 


PREFACE.  xxv 

book,  and  of  the  slight  remains  of  warriors  by  whom,  there 
need  be  little  doubt,  those  swords  were  wielded  ? 

"  Expende  Annibalem ;  quot  libras  in  duce  summo 
Invenies  ?"  * 

They  also  appear  on  the  sword-handle  knobs.  The  helos 
of  Homer  is  commonly  rendered  a  nail  or  stud,  which 
has  a  head  of  small  size ;  but  the  word  probably  includes 
the  larger  buttons  or  bosses,  which  lie  in  lines  along  some 
of  the  swords.    (See  on  this  point  pp.  281,  2  ;  303,  5,  6.) 

I  will  not  attempt  to  pursue  further  an  enumeration 
which,  growing  more  and  more  minute,  would  be  wearisome. 
If  porcelain  and  glass  have  been  found,  I  should  at  once 
assign  them  to  foreign  importation.  The  art  of  casting 
and  tooling  in  the  precious  metals,  of  which  the  examples 
would  appear,  both  from  our  author  and  from  Mr.  Newton, 
to  be  few,  are  probably  to  be  referred  to  a  like  source. 
The  hammer  and  the  pincers  are  the  only  instruments  for 
metallic  manipulation,  of  which  Homer  appears  to  be 
aware  (//.  XVIII.  477,  Od.  Ill  434-5).  As  regards  the 
pottery  mentioned  by  our  author,  if  some  of  the  goblets 
were  of  light  green  (p.  285),  we  have  a  colour  developed 
in  their  manufacture  of  which  Homer  had  certainly  no 
distinct  conception,  though  it  may  still  be  true  that,  as  in 
nature,  so  in  human  art,  objects  bearing  that  colour  may 
have  met  his  eye.  Of  the  scales  in  the  third  sepulchre  there 
seems  no  reason  to  doubt  that  we  may  find  the  interpretation, 
by  referring  them  to  the  Egyptian  scheme  of  doctrine  with 
regard  to  a  future  life  (pp.  197,  8).  In  the  Books  of  the 
Dead,  we  have  an  elaborate  representation  of  the  judgment- 
hall,  to  which  the  departed  soul  is  summoned.  Here  the 
scales  form  a  very  prominent  object  ;f  and  it  seems  very 
possible  that  the  Poet,  who  was  Greek  and  not  Egyptian  in 


**  Juvenal,  Sat.  X.  147. 

t  See,  e.g.,  the  print  in  Manning's  'Land  of  the  Pharaohs,'  p.  129. 


i) 


xxvi 


PREFACE. 


his  ideas  of  the  future  state,  may  have  borrowed  and  trans- 
posed, from  this  quarter,  the  image  of  the  balances  displayed 
on  high,  which  he  employs  with  such  fine  effect  in  some 
critical  passages  of  the  Iliad.  As  regards  the  emblem  of  the 
double-headed  or  full-formed  axe,  I  venture  to  dispense  with 
the  cautious  reserve  of  Schliemann.  As  the  usual  form  of 
a  weapon  familiar  to  the  age,  it  seems  to  require  no  special 
explanation  (p.  252).  But  where  we  find  it  conjoined  with 
the  ox- head  (p,  218),  or  on  the  great  signet  ring  in  con- 
junction with  a  figure  evidently  representing  Deity,  I  can- 
not hesitate  to  regard  it  as  a  sacrificial  symbol.  We  have 
only  to  remember  the  passage  in  the  third  Odyssey,  where 
the  apparatus  of  sacrifice  is  detailed,  and  Thrasumedes,  who 
was  to  strike  the  blow,  brought  the  axe  (III.  442):  — 

o£vv  €)(0)V  iv  Xe/°°"'  Trapicrraro,  fiovv  hriKoipuw. 

The  boar's  teeth  (p.  273)  supply  a  minor,  perhaps,  but 
a  clear  and  significant  point  of  correspondence  to  be  added 
to  our  list  (//.  X.  263-264).  Another  is  to  be  noticed  in 
the  manner  of  attaching,  by  wire,  lids  and  covers.  On 
these  subjects,  I  refer  to  the  text  of  the  volume. 

By  the  foregoing  detail  I  have  sought  to  show  that  there 
is  no  preliminary  bar  to  our  entertaining  the  capital  question 
whether  the  tombs  now  unearthed,  and  the  remains  exposed 
to  view,  under  masks  for  the  faces,  and  plates  of  gold  covering 
one  or  more  of  the  trunks,  are  the  tombs  and  remains  of 
the  great  Agamemnon  and  his  compeers,  who  have  enjoyed, 
through  the  agency  of  Homer,  such  a  protracted  longevity 
of  renown.  For  the  general  character  of  the  Mycenean 
treasures,  I  take  my  stand  provisionally  on  the  declaration 
of  Mr.  Newton  (supported  by  Mr.  Gardnei),  that,  in  his 
judgment,  they  belong  to  the  prehistoric  or  heroic  age,  the 
age  antecedent  to  his  Greco -Phoenician  period;  and  in  im- 
portant outlines  of  detail  I  have  endeavoured  to  show  that 
they  have  many  points  of  contact  with  the  Homeric  Poems, 


PREFACE. 


xxv  ii 


and  with  the  discoveries  at  Hissarlik.  But  this  Preface 
makes  no  pretension  whatever  to  exhibit  a  complete  cata- 
logue of  the  objects,  or  to  supply  for  each  of  them  its  inter- 
pretation. We  encounter,  indeed,  a  certain  number  of 
puzzling  phenomena,  such  as  the  appearance  of  something 
like  visors,  for  which  I  could  desire  some  other  explanation, 
but  which  Schliemann  cites  as  auxiliaries  to  the  masks  of 
the  tombs,  and  even  thinks  to  prove  that  such  articles  were 
used  by  the  living,  as  well  as  for  the  dead  (p.  359). 

Undoubtedly,  in  my  view,  these  masks  constitute  a  great 
difficulty,  when  we  come  to  handle  the  question  who  were 
the  occupants  of  the  now  opened  sepulchres  ?  It  may  be, 
that  as  Mr.  Newton  says,  we  must  in  the  main  rest  content 
with  the  "  reasonable  presumption "  that  the  four  tombs 
contained  Royal  personages,  and  must  leave  in  abeyance 
the  further  question,  whether  they  are  the  tombs  indicated 
to  Pausanias  by  the  local  tradition ;  at  any  rate,  until  the 
ruins  of  Mycenae  shall  have  been  further  explored,  according 
to  the  intention  which  the  government  of  Greece  is  said 
to  have  conceived. 

At  the  same  time  this  is  a  case  where  the  question 
before  us,  if  hazardous  to  prosecute,  is  not  easy  to  let 
alone. 

It  is  obviously  difficult  to  find  any  simple,  clear,  con- 
sistent interpretation  of  the  extraordinary  inhumation 
disclosed  to  us  by  these  researches.  Such  an  interpretation 
may  be  found  hereafter :  it  does  not  seem  to  be  forth- 
coming at  the  present  moment.  But  the  way  towards  it 
can  only  be  opened  up  by  a  painstaking  exhibition  of  the 
facts,  and  by  instituting  a  cautious  comparison  between 
them  and  any  indications,  drawn  from  other  times  or 
places,  which  may  appear  to  throw  light  upon  them.  For 
my  own  part,  having  approached  the  question  with  no 
predisposition  to  believe,  I  need  not  scruple  to  say  I  am 
brought  or  driven  by  the  evidence  to  certain  conclusions; 
and  also  led  on  to  certain  conjectures  suggested  by  those 


xxviii 


PREFACE. 


conclusions.  The  first  conclusion  is  that  we  cannot  refer 
the  five  entombments  in  the  Agora  at  Mycenas  to  any 
period  within  the  historic  age.  The  second  is  that  they 
are  entombments  of  great,  and  almost  certainly  in  part  of 
royal,  personages.  The  third,  that  they  bear  indisputable 
marks  of  having  been  effected,  not  normally  throughout, 
but  in  connection  with  circumstances,  which  impressed 
upon  them  an  irregular  and  unusual  character.  The  con- 
jecture is,  that  these  may  very  well  be  the  tombs  of 
Agamemnon  and  his  company.  It  is  supported  in  part  by 
a  number  of  presumptions,  but  in  great  part  also  by  the 
difficulty,  not  to  say  the  impossibility,  of  offering  any  other 
suggestion  which  could  be  deemed  so  much  as  colourable. 

The  principal  facts  which  we  have  to  notice  appear  to 
be  as  follows : — 

1.  The  situation  chosen  for  the  interments. 

2.  The  numbers  of  persons  simultaneously  interred. 

3.  The  dimensions  and  character  of  the  graves. 

4.  The  partial  application  of  fire  to  the  remains. 

5.  The  use  of  masks,  and  likewise  of  metallic  plates,  to 
adorn  or  shelter  them,  or  both. 

6.  The  copious  deposit  both  of  characteristic  and  of 
valuable  objects  in  conjunction  with  the  bodies. 

1.  Upon  the  situation  chosen  for  the  interments, 
Dr.  Schliemann  opines  that  they  were  not  originally  within 
the  Agora,  but  that  it  was  subsequently  constructed  around 
the  tombs  (p.  340).  His  reasons  are  that  the  supporting 
wall,  on  which  rest,  in  double  line,  the  upright  slabs, 
formerly,  and  in  six  cases  still,  covered  by  horizontal  slabs 
as  seats  for  the  elders,  is  careless  in  execution,  and  inferior 
to  the  circuit  wall  of  the  Acropolis.  But,  if  it  was  built 
as  a  mere  stay,  was  there  any  reason  for  spending  labour 
to  raise  it  to  the  point  of  strength  necessary  for  a  work  of 
military  defence  ?  Further,  he  finds  between  the  lines  of 
slabs,  where  they  are  uncovered,  broken  pottery  of  the  pre- 
historic period  more  recent  than  that  of  the  tombs.  But 


PREFACE. 


XXIX 


such  pottery  would  never  have  been  placed  there  at  the 
time  of  the  construction  ;  with  other  rubbish,  it  would  onlv 
have  weakened  and  not  strengthened  the  fabric  of  the 
inclosure.  Nor  can  we  readily  see  how  it  could  have  come 
there,  until  the  work  was  dilapidated  by  the  disappearance 
of  the  upper  slabs.  If  so,  it  would  of  course  be  later  in 
date  than  the  slabs  were. 

It  appears  to  me  that  the  argument  of  improbability 
tells  powerfully  against  the  supposition  that  the  Agora  was 
constructed  round  the  tombs,  having  previously  been  else- 
where. The  space  within  the  Acropolis  appears  to  be  very 
limited  :  close  round  the  inclosures  are  '  Cyclopean  '  houses 
and  cisterns.  When  works  of  this  kind  are  once  con- 
structed, their  removal  would  be  a  work  of  great  difficulty : 
and  this  is  a  case,  where  the  earliest  builders  were  followed 
by  men  who  aimed  not  at  greater,  but  at  less,  solidity. 
Besides  which,  the  Agora  was  connected  with  the  religion 
of  the  place,  and  was,  as  will  be  shown,  in  the  immediate 
neighbourhood  of  the  palace.  In  addition  to  these  material 
attractions,  every  kind  of  moral  association  would  grow  up 
around  it. 

It  can  be  clearly  shown  that  the  ancient  Agora  was 
bound  down  to  its  site  by  manifold  ties,  other  than  those 
of  mere  solidity  in  its  construction.  It  stands  in  Mycenae, 
says  our  author  (p.  341),  on  the  most  imposing  and  most 
beautiful  spot  of  the  city,  from  whence  the  whole  was  over- 
looked. It  was  on  these  high  places  that  the  men  of  the 
prehistoric  ages  erected  the  simple  structures,  in  many  cases 
perhaps  uncovered,  that,  with  the  altars,  served  for  the 
worship  of  the  gods.  In  Scherie,  it  was  built  round  the 
temple,  so  to  call  it,  of  Poseidon  {Od  VI.  266).  In  the 
Greek  camp  before  Troy  the  Agora  was  in  the  centre  of 
the  line  of  ships  (//.  XI.  5-9,  806-8).  There  justice  was 
administered,  and  there  "  had  been  constructed  the  altars  of 
the  gods."  Further,  it  is  clear,  from  a  number  of  passages 
in  Homer,  that  the  place  of  Assembly  was  always  close  to 


XXX 


PREFACE. 


the  royal  palace.  In  the  case  of  Troy  we  are  told  expressly 
that  it  was  held  by  the  doors  of  Priam  (//.  II.  788,  VII. 
345,  6)  In  Scherie,  the  palace  of  Alkinoos  was  close  to 
the  grove  of  Athene  {Od.  VI.  291-3) ;  and  we  can  hardly 
doubt  that  this  grove  was  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of 
the  Poside'ion,  which  was  itself  within  the  Agora.  In 
Ithaca  {Od.  XXIV.  415  seqq.),  the  people  gathered  before 
the  Palace  of  Odysseus,  and  then  went  in  a  mass  into  the 
Agora.  While  it  was  thus  materially  associated  with 
those  points  of  the  city  which  most  possessed  the  character 
of  fixtures,  it  is  not  too  much  to  say,  considering  the 
politics  of  early  Greece,  that  it  must,  in  the  natural  course, 
have  become  a  centre  around  which  would  cling  the  fondest 
moral  and  historical  associations  of  the  people.  Into  the 
minor  question  whether  the  encircling  slabs  are  the  remains 
of  an  original  portion  of  the  work  or  not,  I  do  not  think 
it  needful  for  me  to  enter. 

But,  while  I  believe  that  the  Agora  is  where  it  was,  the 
honour  paid  to  the  dead  by  the  presence  of  their  tombs 
within  it  is  not  affected  by  either  alternative ;  but  only  the 
time  of  paying  it.  If  this  be  the  old  Agora,  they  were 
honoured  by  being  laid  in  it ;  if  it  is  of  later  date,  they 
were  honoured  by  its  being  removed  in  order  to  be  built 
around  them ;  if  at  least  this  was  done  knowingly,  and 
how  could  it  be  otherwise,  when  we  observe  that  the  five 
tombs  occupy  more  than  a  moiety  of  the  whole  available 
space  ?  We  know,  from  the  evidence  of  the  historic  period, 
that  to  be  buried  in  the  Agora  was  a  note  of  public  honour; 
we  cannot  reasonably  doubt,  with  the  five  graves  before  us, 
that  it  was  such  likewise  in  the  historic  age. 

It  was  a  note  of  public  honour,  then,  if  these  bodies 
were  originally  buried  in  the  Agora.  If  we  adopt  the  less 
probable  supposition  that  the  Agora  was  afterwards  con- 
structed around  them  by  reason  of  their  being  there,  the 
honour  may  seem  even  greater  still. 

2.  Next,  the  number  of  persons  simultaneously  interred, 


I 


PREFACE.  xxxi 

when  taken  in  conjunction  with  the  other  features  of  the 
transaction,  offers  a  new  problem  for  consideration.  An 
argument  in  p.  337,  to  show  that  the  burials  were  simul- 
taneous, seems  quite  conclusive.    They  embraced  (ibid.) 
sixteen  or  seventeen  persons.    Among  the  bodies  one 
appears  to  be  marked  out  by  probable  evidence  as  that  of 
the  leading  personage.     Lying  in  the  tomb  marked  as 
No.  1,  it  has  two  companions.    Now  Agamemnon  had 
two  marshals  or  heralds  (//.  I.  320),  whose  office  partook 
of  a  sacred  character.    There  might,  therefore,  be  nothing 
strange  in  their  being  laid,  if  so  it  were,  by  their  lord.  The 
most  marked  of  the  bodies  lay  to  the  north  of  the  two 
others,  all  three  having  the  feet  to  the  westward.    It  was 
distinguished  by  better  preservation,  which  may,  at  least  not 
improbably,  have  been  due  to  some  preservative  process  at 
the  time  of  interment.    It  carried,  besides  a  golden  mask 
(p.  296),  a  large  golden  breastplate  (15$  by       in.),  and 
other  leaves  of  gold  at  various  points ;  also  a  golden  belt 
across  the  loins,  4  ft.  long  and  if  in.  broad.    By  the  side 
of  the  figure  lay  two  swords,  stated  by  Dr.  Schliemann  to 
be  of  bronze  (p.  302)  ,  the  ornamentation  of  one  of  them 
particularly  in  striking  accordance  with  the  description  in 
the  Iliad  of  the  sword  of  Agamemnon  {II.  XI.  29-31). 
Within  a  foot  of  the  body,  to  the  right,  lay  eleven  other 
swords  (p.  304) ,  but  this  is  not  a  distinctive  mark,  as  the 
body  on  the  south  side  has  fifteen,  ten  lying  at  the  feet, 
and  a  great  heap  of  swords  were  found  at  the  west  end, 
between  this  and  the  middle  body. 

The  entire  number  of  bodies  in  the  five  tombs  (p.  337), 
which  is  stated  at  sixteen  or  seventeen,  seems  to  have 
included  three  women  and  two  01  three  children.  The 
local  tradition  recorded  by  Pausanias  {inf.  p.  59)  takes 
notice  of  a  company  of  men  with  Agamemnon,  and  of 
Cassandra,  with  two  children  whom  she  was  reported  to 
have  borne.  This  is  only  significant  as  testifying  to  the 
ancient  belief  that  children  were  buried  in  the  tombs- 


XXX11 


PREFACE. 


for  Cassandra  could  only  be  taken  captive  at  the  time 
when  the  city  of  Troy  was  sacked,  and  the  assassination 
immediately  followed  the  arrival  in  Greece.  But  it  is 
likely  enough  that  these  children  may  have  been  the 
offspring  of  another  concubine,  who  may  have  taken  the 
place  Briseis  was  meant  to  fill.  This  is  of  course  mere 
speculation  ;  but  the  meaning  is  that  there  is  nothing  in 
these  indications  to  impair  the  force  of  any  presumptions, 
which  the  discoveries  may  in  other  respects  legitimately 
raise. 

3.  Like  the  site  in  the  Agora,  so  the  character  of  the 
tombstones,  which  is  in  strict  correspondence  with  the 
style  of  many  of  the  ornaments,*  and  the  depth  of  the 
tombs,  appear  with  one  voice  to  signify  honour  to  the 
dead.  As  I  understand  the  Plans,  they  show  a  maximum 
depth  of  25  feet  (see,  e.g.,  p.  155)  below  the  surface,  hol- 
lowed for  the  most  part  out  of  the  solid  rock.  But  then 
we  are  met  with  the  staggering  fact  that  the  bodies  of  full- 
grown,  and  apparently  (p.  295)  tall,  men  have  been  forced 
into  a  space  of  only  five  feet  six  inches  in  length,  so  as  to 
require  that  sort  of  compression  which  amounts  almost  to 
mutilation. 

We  seem  thus  to  stand  in  the  face  of  circumstances  that 
contradict  one  another.  The  place,  the  depth,  the  coverings 
of  the  tombs,  appear  to  lead  us  in  one  direction  ;  the  forcing 
and  squeezing  of  the  bodies  in  another.  But  further,  and 
stranger  still,  there  seems  to  have  been  no  necessity  for 
placing  the  bodies  under  this  unbecoming,  nay  revolting, 
pressure.  The  original  dimensions  of  the  tomb  (p.  294) 
were  21  ft.  6  in.  by  1 1  ft.  6  in.  These  are  reduced  all  round, 
first  by  an  inner  wall  two  feet  thick,  and  secondly  by  a 
slanting  projection  one  foot  thick  (at  the  bottom)  to  5  ft. 
6  in.  and  15  ft.  6  in.  Why,  then,  were  the  bodies  not  laid 
along,  instead  of  across,  it  ?    Was  not  the  act  needless  as 


*  Mr.  Percy  Gardner,  in  the  Academy,  April  21,  1877. 


PREFACE. 


xxxiii 


well  as  barbarous  ?  And  to  what  motive  is  a  piece  of 
needless  barbarism,  apparently  so  unequivocal,  to  be 
referred  ?  I  hardly  dare  to  mention,  much  less,  so  scanty  is 
the  evidence,  to  dwell  upon  the  fact  that  their  bodies  lie 
towards  the  west,  and  that  the  Egyptian  receptacle  for  the 
dead  lay  in  that  quarter.*  The  conflict  of  appearances,  at 
which  we  have  now  arrived,  appears  to  point  to  a  double 
motive  in  the  original  entombment ;  or  to  an  incomplete 
and  incoherent  proceeding,  which  some  attempt  was  subse- 
quently made  to  correct ;  or  to  both.  But  let  us  pay  a 
brief  attention  to  the  remaining  particulars  of  the  dis- 
closures. 

4.  We  have  next  to  observe  (a)  that  fire  was  applied  to 
these  remains ;  (6)  that  the  application  of  it  was  only  partial ; 
(c )  that  the  metallic  deposits  are  said  to  show  marks  f  of  the 
action  of  it  (pp.  1 58,  165,  188,  198,  201,  208,  215,  218,  260, 
266,  321,  330)  :  so  do  the  pebbles  (p.  294).  We  see,  there- 
fore, that  the  deposition  of  the  precious  objects  took  place 
either  at  the  same  moment  with  the  fire,  or,  and  more 
probably  I  suppose,  before  it  had  entirely  burned  out. 

The  partial  nature  of  the  burning  requires  a  more 
detailed  consideration.  In  the  Homeric  burials,  burning  is 
universal.  It  must  be  regarded,  according  to  the  Poems,  as 
the  established  Achaian  custom  of  the  day,  wherever  inhu- 
mation was  normally  conducted.  And  for  burial  there  was 
a  distinct  reason,  namely,  that  without  it  the  Shade  of  the 
departed  was  not  allowed  to  join  the  company  of  the  other 
Shades,  so  that  the  unburied  Elpenor  is  the  first  to  meet 
Odysseus  {Od.  XI.  51)  on  his  entrance  into  the  Under- 
world ;  and  the  shade  of  Patroclos  entreats  Achilles  to 
bury  him  as  rapidly  as  may  be,  that  he  may  pass  the  gates 
of  Aides  (//.  XXIII.  71).  I  think  the  proof  of  the  uni- 
versal use  of  fire  in  regular  burials  at  this  period  is  con- 


*  *  Homeric  Synchronism,'  p.  240. 

t  These  marks,  I  now  learn  from  Dr.  S.,  are  universal. 


r. 


XXXIV 


PREFACE. 


elusive.  Not  only  do  we  find  it  in  the  great  burials  of  the 
Seventh  Book  (429-32),  and  in  the  funerals  of  Patroclos 
(XXIII.  177)  and  Hector  (XXIV.  785-800),  but  we  have 
it  in  the  case  of  Elpenor  (Od.  XII.  11- [3),  whom  at  first 
his  companions  had  left  uninterred,  and  for  whom  therefore 
we  must  suppose  they  only  did  what  was  needful  under  esta- 
blished custom.  Perhaps  a  yet  clearer  proof  is  to  be  found 
in  a  simile.  Achilles,  we  are  told,  wept  while  the  funeral 
pile  he  had  erected  was  burning,  all  night  long,  the  bones 
of  Patroclos,  "  as  a  father  weeps  when  he  burns  the  bones 
of  his  youthful  son  "  (XXIII.  222-5).  This  testifies  to  a 
general  practice. 

In  the  case  of  notable  persons,  the  combustion  was  not 
complete.  For  not  the  ashes  only,  but  the  bones,  were 
carefully  gathered.  In  the  case  of  Patroclos,  they  are 
wrapped  in  fat,  and  put  in  an  open  cup  or  bowl  (pJiiale) 
for  temporary  custody  (XXIII.  239-44)  until  the  funeral 
of  Achilles,  when  with  those  of  Achilles  himself,  similarly 
wrapped,  and  soaked  in  wine,  they  are  deposited  in  a  golden 
urn  (Od.  XXIV.  73-7).  In  the  case  of  Hector,  the  bones 
are  in  like  manner  gathered  and  lodged  in  a  golden  box, 
which  is  then  placed  in  a  trench  and  built  over  with  a  mass 
of  stones  (//.  XXIV.  793-8).  Incomplete  combustion, 
then,  is  common  to  the  Homeric  and  the  Mycenean 
instances.  But  in  the  case  of  the  first  tomb  at  Mycenae, 
not  only  was  there  no  collection  of  the  bones  for  deposit  in 
an  urn,  but  they  had  not  been  touched;  except  in  the 
instance  of  the  middle  body,  where  they  had  simply  been 
disturbed,  and  the  valuables  perhaps  removed,  as  hardly 
anything  of  the  kind  was  found  with  it.  In  the  case  of  the 
body  on  the  north  side,  the  flesh  of  the  face  remained 
unconsumed. 

But  though  the  use  of  fire  was  universal  in  honourable 
burial,  burial  itself  was  not  allowed  to  all.  Enemies,  as  a 
rule,  were  not  buried.  Hence  the  opening  passage  of  the 
Iliad  tells  us  that  many  heroes  became  a  prey  to  dogs  and 


PREFACE. 


XXXV 


birds  (//.  I.  4).  Such  says  Priam,  before  the  conflict  with 
Hector,  he  would  make  Achilles  if  he  could  (XXII.  42); 
and  he  anticipates  a  like  distressing  fate  (66  scqq.)  for  him- 
self. In  the  Odyssey,  the  bodies  of  the  Suitors  are  left  to 
be  removed  by  their  friends  (XXII.  448;  XXIV.  417). 
Achilles,  indeed,  buried  Eetion,  king  of  Asiatic  Thebes,  with 
his  arms,  in  the  regular  manner.  "  He  did  not  simply  spoil 
him,  for  he  had  a  scruple  in  his  mind"  {II.  VI.  417)  ;  and 
no  wonder ;  for  Eetion,  king  of  the  Kilikes,  was  not  an 
enemy :  that  people  does  not  appear  among  the  allies  of 
Troy  in  the  Catalogue.  Thus  there  was  a  variance  of  use ; 
and  there  may  have  been  cases  of  irregular  intermediate 
treatment  between  the  two  extremes  of  honourable  burial 
and  casting  out  to  the  dogs. 

5.  With  regard  to  the  use  of  masks  of  gold  for  the 
dead,  I  hope  that  the  Mycenean  discoveries  will  lead  to  a 
full  collection  of  the  evidence  upon  this  rare  and  curious 
practice.  For  the  present,  I  limit  myself  to  the  following 
observations  : 

(1.)  If  not  less  than  seven  of  these  golden  masks 
have  been  discovered  at  Mycenae  by  Dr.  Schliemann, 
then  the  use  of  them,  on  the  occasion  of  these  entomb- 
ments, was  not  limited  to  royal  persons,  of  whom  it  is 
impossible  to  make  out  so  large  a  number. 

(2.)  I  am  not  aware  of  any  proof  at  present  before 
us  that  the  use  of  such  masks  for  the  dead  of  any  rank 
or  class  was  a  custom  prevalent,  or  even  known,  in 
Greece.  There  is  much  information,  from  Homer 
downwards,  supplied  to  us  by  the  literature  of  that 
country  concerning  burials ;  and  yet,  in  a  course  of 
more  than  1  200  years,  there  is  not  a  single  allusion  to 
the  custom  of  using  masks  for  the  dead.  It  seems  to 
be  agreed  that  the  passage  in  the  works  of  Lucian, 
who  is  reckoned  to  have  flourished  in  the  second  half 
of  the  second  century,  does  not  refer  to  the  use -of  such 
masks.    This  might  lead  us  to  the  conjecture  that, 


xxx  t'i 


PREFACE. 


where  the  practice  has  appeared,  it  was  a  remainder 
of  foreign  usage,  a  survival  from  immigration. 

(3.)  Masks  have  been  found  in  tombs,  not  in 
Greece,  but  in  the  Crimea,  Campania,  and  Mesopo- 
tamia. Our  latest  information  on  the  subject  is,  I 
believe,  the  account  mentioned  in  Dr  Schliemann's 
last  report  from  Athens  (pp  xlvii,  xlviii),  of  a  gold 
mask  found  on  the  Phoenician  coast  over  against 
Aradus,  which  is  of  the  size  suited  for  an  infant  only. 
It  is  to  be  remembered  that  heroic  Greece  is  full  of 
the  marks  of  what  I  may  term  Phcenicianism,  most  of 
which  passed  into  the  usages  of  the  country,  and  con- 
tributed to  form  the  base  of  Hellenic  life.  Nor  does 
it  seem  improbable,  that  this  use  of  the  metallic 
mask  may  have  been  a  Phoenician  adaptation  from  the 
Egyptian  custom  of  printing  the  likeness  of  the  dead 
on  the  mummy  case.  And,  again,  we  are  to  bear  in 
mind  that  Mycenae  had  been  the  seat  of  repeated 
foreign  immigrations. 

(4.)  We  have  not  to  deal  in  this  case  only  with 
masks,  but  with  the  case  of  a  breastplate  in  gold, 
which,  however,  could  not  have  been  intended  for  use 
in  war ;  together  with  other  leaves  or  plates  of  gold, 
found  on,  or  apparently  intended  for,  other  portions  of 
the  person. 

6.  Lastly,  with  regard  to  the  deposit  of  objects  which, 
besides  being  characteristic,  have  unchangeable  value,  the 
only  point  on  which  I  have  here  to  remark  is,  their  extra- 
ordinary amount.  It  is  such,  I  conceive,  as  to  give  to 
these  objects,  and  particularly  to  those  of  the  First  Tomb, 
an  exceptional  place  among  the  sepulchral  deposits  of 
antiquity.  I  understand  that  their  weight  is  about  one 
hundred  pounds  troy,  or  nearly  that  of  five  thousand 
British  sovereigns  It  is  difficult  to  suppose  that  this 
deposit  could  have  been  usual,  even  with  the  remains  of  a 
King ;   and   it  is   at   this  point  that  I,  for   one,  am 


PREFACE. 


xxxvii 


compelled  to  break  finally  and  altogether  with  the  sup- 
position, that  this  great  entombment,  in  the  condition 
in  which  Dr.  Schliemann  found  it,  was  simply  an  entomb- 
ment of  Agamemnon  and  his  company  effected  by 
j^Egisthus  and  Clytemnestra,  their  murderers. 

So  far,  with  little  argument,  I  have  endeavoured  fairly 
to  set  out  the  facts.  Let  me  now  endeavour  to  draw  to  a 
point  the  several  threads  of  the  subject,  in  order  to  deal 
with  the  main  question,  namely,  whether  these  half-wasted, 
half-burned  remains  are  the  ashes  of  Agamemnon  and  his 
company  ?  And  truly  this  is  a  case,  where  it  may  be  said 
to  the  inquirer,  in  figure  as  well  as  in  fact, 

"  et  incedis  per  ignes 
Suppositos  cineri  doloso."* 

Let  us  place  clearly  before  our  eyes  the  account  given 
by  the  Shade  of  Agamemnon,  in  the  Eleventh  Odyssey 
(405-434),  of  the  manner  of  his  death.  No  darker  picture 
could  be  drawn.  It  combined  every  circumstance  of 
cruelty  with  every  circumstance  of  fraud.  At  the  hospi- 
table board,  amid  the  flowing  wine-cups,  he  was  slain  like 
an  ox  at  the  stall,  and  his  comrades  like  so  many  hogs  foi 
a  rich  man's  banquet;  with  deaths  more  piteous  than  he 
had  ever  known  in  single  combat,  or  in  the  rush  of  armies. 
Most  piteous  of  all  was  the  death  of  Cassandra,  whom  the 
cruel  Clytemnestra  despatched  with  her  own  hand  while 
clinging  to  Agamemnon;  nor  did  she  vouchsafe  to  her 
husband  the  last  office  of  mercy  and  compassion,  by 
closing  his  mouth  and  eyes  in  death.  Singularly  enough, 
Dr.  Schliemann  assures  me  that  the  right  eye,  which  alone 
could  be  seen  with  tolerable  clearness,  was  not  entirely 
shut  (see  the  engraving  at  p.  297);  while  the  teeth  of  the 
upper  jawbone  (see  the  same  engraving)  did  not  quite 
join  those  of  the  lower.    This  condition,  he  thinks,  may 


Hor.  Oil.  H.  1.  8. 


XXXV111 


PREFACE. 


be  due  to  the  superincumbent  weight.  But  if  the  weight 
had  opened  the  jaw,  would  not  the  opening,  in  all  likeli- 
hood, have  been  much  wider ? 

Now,  as  we  are  told  that  yEgisthus  reigned  until 
Orestes  reached  his  manhood,  we  must  assume  that  the 
massacre  was  in  all  respects  triumphant.  Yet  there  could 
hardly  fail  to  be  a  party  among  the  people  favourable  to 
the  returning  King,  who  had  covered  his  country  with 
unequalled  glory.  There  might  thus  be  found  in  the  circum- 
stances a  certain  dualism,  a  ground  for  compromise,  such  as 
may  go  far  to  account  for  the  discrepancies  of  intention, 
which  we  seem  to  find  in  the  entombments.  There  was  this 
division  of  sentiment  among  the  people,  in  the  only  case 
where  we  know  the  return  of  the  prince  from  Troy  to  have 
been  accompanied  with  a  crisis  or  conflict,  I  mean  the  case 
of  Ithaca. 

The  assassins  proceeded  in  such  a  way,  that  the  only 
consistent  accomplishment  of  their  design  would  have  been 
found  in  casting  forth  the  bodies  of  the  slain  like  the 
bodies  of  enemies.  But  this  may  have  been  forbidden  by 
policy.  In  the  Julius  Caesar  of  Shakespeare,  Brutus  says 
(III.  i.)- 

"  We  are  contented  Caesar  shall 
Have  all  due  rites  and  lawful  ceremonies. 
It  shall  advantage  more  than  do  us  wrong." 

.^Egisthus  was  not  Brutus.  Even  fury  was  apparent  in 
the  incidents  of  the  slaughter.  Yet  there  might  be  a  desire 
to  keep  up  appearances  afterwards,  and  to  allow  some  sem- 
blance of  an  honourable  burial.  There  is  one  special 
circumstance  that  favours  the  idea  of  a  double  process, 
namely,  that  we  readily  find  the  agents  for  both  parts  of  it; 
the  murderers  for  the  first,  with  necessity  and  policy  con- 
trolling hatred  ;  Orestes  on  his  return  for  the  second,  with 
the  double  motive  of  piety  and  revenge. 

We  are  now  on  the  road  not  of  history,  but  of  reason- 
able conjecture.     I   try  to  account  for  a  burial,  which 


PREFACE. 


xxxix 


according  to  all  reasonable  presumption  is  of  the  heroic 
age,  and  of  royal  and  famous  personages,  but  which 
presents  conflicting  features  of  honour  and  of  shame.  That 
there  is  no  conflicting  hypothesis,  is  not  a  good  reason  for 
precipitate  assent  to  the  hypothesis  which  we  may  term 
Agamemnonian.  Conjecture,  to  be  admissible,  ought  to 
be  consistent  with  itself,  to  meet  the  main  demands  of  the 
known  facts,  and  to  present  no  trait  at  actual  variance  with 
any  of  them.  In  this  view  I  present  the  hypothesis  of  a 
double  procedure,  and  a  double  agency:  and  I  submit,  that 
there  is  nothing  irrational  in  the  following  chain  of  suppo- 
sitions for  the  First  Tomb,  while  the  others  are  probably  in- 
cluded in  the  argument.  That  the  usurping  assassins,  from 
the  same  policy,  granted  the  honour  of  burial  in  the  Agora  ; 
hewed  the  sepulchre  deep  and  large  in  the  rock ;  and  built 
the  encircling  wall  within  it.  That  honour  stopped  with  the 
preparation  of  the  tomb,  and  the  rest,  less  visible  to  the 
public  eye,  was  left  to  spite  or  haste.  That  the  bodies  were 
consecpaently  placed  in  the  seemingly  strange  and  indecent 
fashion,  which  the  tomb  has  disclosed.  That,  as  they  were 
protected  by  the  rock,  and  by  the  depth  from  the  surface, 
their  decomposition  was  slow.  That  Orestes,  on  his  return, 
could  not  but  be  aware  of  the  circumstances,  and,  in  the 
fulfilment  of  his  divinely  ordered  mission,  determined  upon 
reparation  to  the  dead.  That  he  opened  the  tombs  and 
arranged  the  means  of  cremation.  That,  owing  to  the 
depth,  it  was  imperfect  from  want  of  ventilation ;  we  may 
remember  that  in  the  case  of  Patroclos  the  winds  were 
specially  summoned  to  expedite  the  process  (//.  XXIII. 
192-218).  In  calling  it  imperfect,  I  mean  that  it  stopped 
short  of  the  point  at  which  the  bones  could  be  gathered ; 
and  they  remained  in  situ.  That  the  masks,  breastplate, 
and  other  leaves  of  gold  were  used,  perhaps,  in  part  with 
reference  to  custom ;  in  part,  especially  as  regards  all 
beside  the  masks,  to  replace  in  the  wasted  bodies  the 
seemliness  and  majesty  of  nature,  and  to  shelter  its  dilapi- 


xl 


PREFACE. 


dation.  That  the  profuse  deposits  of  arms  and  valuables 
were  due  to  filial  piety.  That  the  same  sentiment  carried 
the  work  through  even  to  the  careful  sculpturing  of  the 
four  tomb-stones  (others  have  been  found  (p.  100),  but 
without  sculpture) ;  and  sought,  by  their  means,  to  indicate 
for  renown  and  reverence,  and  to  secure  from  greedy  viola- 
tion, the  resting-place  of  the  dead. 

A  complex  solution,  perhaps ;  but  one  applicable  to 
very  complex  facts,  and  one  of  which  the  ground  at  least 
is  laid  in  those  facts ;  one  also,  which  I  offer  as  a  contribu- 
tion to  a  most  interesting  scrutiny,  but  with  no  claim  or 
pretension  to  uphold  it  against  any  other,  that  may  seem 
better  entitled  to  fill  the  vacant  place. 

W.  E.  G. 


Hawarden,  November,  1877. 


DR.  SCHLIKM ANN'S  ACCOUNT  OF  A  TOMB 
AT  SPAT  A,  IN  ATTICA. 


Athens,  1st  Oct.,  1877. 

For  some  months  past  it  has  repeatedly  been  asserted  in 
the  Press  by  travellers  that  there  exists  a  very  great 
similarity  between  the  Mycenean  antiquities  and  those 
recently  discovered  in  a  tomb  at  Spata.  Having  now 
visited  the  latter,  in  company  with  my  esteemed  friend 
Professor  E.  Castorches,  of  the  University  of  Athens,  and 
his  daughter  Helen,  and  having  carefully  examined  the 
objects  found  in  it,  I  think  it  in  the  interest  of  science  to 
offer  the  following  remarks  on  the  subject.  The  village  of 
Spata,  which  is  exclusively  inhabited  by  Albanians,  lies 
about  nine  miles  to  the  east  of  Athens,  on  the  further  side 
of  Mount  Hymettus,  on  the  road  to  Marathon.  Close  to 
that  village  is  a  small  mount,  whose  circular  summit  has 
evidently  been  artificially  levelled  ;  it  is  covered  to  a 
depth  of  about  three  feet  with  debris,  in  which  we  see  now 
and  then  fragments  of  archaic  vases  with  painted  parallel 
horizontal  bands.  The  villagers  assert  that  until  very 
recently  the  summit  was  surrounded  by  the  ruins  of 
fortress  walls,  which  have  now  altogether  disappeared,  the 
stones  having  been  used  for  the  building  of  the  new  village. 
The  name  of  the  settlement  which  existed  here  in  antiquity 
is  altogether  uncertain.  Colonel  Leake*  recognises  in  the 
present  name,  Spata,  a  corruption  of  the  ancient  demos  of 

•  '  Demi  of  Attica,'  p.  125. 


F 


xlii 


THE  TOMB  AT  SPATA. 


Sphettus  (S^tto?  or  S^tto?),  which  is  mentioned  by 
Aristophanes,*  Strabo,f  Pausanias,|  Stephanus  Byzantinus,§ 
and  others. 

In  the  south-west  side  of  the  mount,  which  slopes  at  an 
angle  of  52  degrees,  there  occurred  last  winter  in  one  place 
a  sudden  breaking  down  of  the  ground,  and  in  the  hollow 
thus  formed  there  was  discovered  a  sepulchre  cut  out 
in  the  sandstone  rock.  The  Archaeological  Society  had 
the  place  explored,  and  it  was  found  that  an  inclined  road, 
cut  in  the  rock,  74  feet  long,  led  into  the  tomb.  The 
road  is  8j  feet  broad  up  to  the  entrance,  which  is  10  feet 
long  and  3^  feet  broad.  The  sepulchre  consists  of  three 
quadrangular  chambers,  which  are  united  by  two  passages 
6h  feet  long  and  3^  feet  broad ;  and  the  ceilings  of  these 
chambers  are  cut  out  in  the  rock  in  the  form  of  roofs  with 
two  slanting  sides.  The  primitive  architect  had  evidently 
intended  to  give  to  each  of  these  three  chambers  exactly  the 
shape  of  a  house,  because  the  slanting  sides  of  the  roof-like 
ceiling  do  not  converge  directly  from  the  vertical  walls,  but 
hang  over  by  8  inches  like  the  eaves  of  a  house.  The 
height  of  the  first  chamber  is  i6i  feet,  its  breadth  15,  and 
its  length  20  feet;  the  two  other  chambers  are  125  feet 
high,  12  feet  long,  and  iiifeet  broad.  Of  the  existence 
of  wooden  doors  there  are  no  traces,  except  in  the  passage 
from  the  first  to  the  second  chamber.  Seen  from  the 
extremity  of  the  "  dromos  "  this  tomb  reminds  us  of  the 
Egyptian  sepulchres.  || 

In  each  of  the  three  chambers  was  found  a  human  skele- 
ton, with  a  quantity  of  ashes  and  charcoal,  which  seems  to 
prove  that  each  body  had  been  burnt  on  the  pyre  in  the  very 
spot  where  it  lay,  but  so  superficially  that  the  bones  were 
preserved.  In  this  respect,  as  well  regarding  the  burning 
of  the  bodies  in  the  tombs,  we  find  a  resemblance  to  the 


*  Plutus,  720.       t  IX.,  p.  397.       %  II.,  30,  8.       §  P.  627. 
||  "  Si  parva  licet  componere  magnis." 


THE  TOMB  AT  SPAT  A. 


xliii 


mode  of  burial  of  the  bodies  in  the  five  royal  sepulchres  at 
Mycerur.  But  here  the  bones  crumbled  away  on  being 
exposed  to  the  air.  This  tomb  had  evidently  been  already 
rifled  in  ancient  times,  for  but  a  few  objects  were  found 
with  the  bodies ;  nearly  all  of  them  lay  dispersed  in  the 
debris,  in  and  before  the  entrance.  They  consisted  of  bone 
or  ivory,  glass,  bronze,  stone,  and  terra-cotta.  Only  a  few 
flowers  of  very  thin  gold-leaf  having  been  found,  whose 
aggregate  weight  cannot  exceed  the  eighth  part  of  a  pound, 
it  appears  that  the  tomb-robbers  only  aimed  at  the  golden 
ornaments,  and  that  they  threw  away  all  the  rest. 

The  few  terra-cotta  vessels  found  here  are  all  wheel- 
made  ;  among  the  number  there  is  one  which  perfectly 
resembles  the  vase  represented  under  No.  25,  p.  64 ;  it  is 
ornamented  with  red  and  black  circular  bands,  and  is  in 
the  shape  of  a  globe  with  a  flat  foot ;  it  terminates  above 
in  a  very  pretty  narrow  neck,  without  an  opening,  the  top 
of  which  is  joined  on  each  side  by  a  beautifully  shaped 
handle  to  the  upper  part  of  the  body.  The  real  mouth  of 
the  vase  is  in  the  shape  of  a  funnel,  and  near  to  the  closed 
neck.  There  was  also  found  the  upper  part  of  a  similar 
vase.  I  remind  the  reader  that  forty-three  vases  of  exactly 
the  same  form  were  found  in  a  sepulchre  at  Ialysus  in 
Rhodes,  and  are  now  in  the  British  Museum  ;  that  they 
sometimes,  though  but  seldom,  occur  in  Attica,  and  that 
some  specimens  of  them  have  also  been  found  in  the 
Egyptian  tombs  and  in  Cyprus. 

Another  vase  found  in  the  tomb  of  Spata  is  orna- 
mented with  black  spirals. 

I  also  mention  among  the  findings  at  Spata  the  large 
quantity  of  small  ornaments  which  Professor  Landerer's 
analysis  has  proved  to  consist  of  glass  alloyed  with  much 
protoxide  of  lead,  the  latter  having  the  property  of 
breaking  the  rays  of  light;  these  ornaments  present  a 
silvery  mirror-like  glimmer.  Landerer  observes  that  it  is 
soda-glass  (in  German,  Natrum-Glas),  and  that  it  has  the 


xliv 


THE  TOMB  AT  SPAT  A. 


property  of  dividing  into  small  leaves  or  splinters.  It  is 
very  remarkable  that  all  these  ornaments  of  glass  have 
evidently  been  cast  in  moulds,  and  that  many  of  them 
resemble  more  or  less  the  types  which  we  see  in  the 
Mycenean  moulds  represented  under  No.  162  and  No. 
163,  p.  107  and  p.  109.  On  the  reverse  side  of  most  of 
these  objects  are  one,  two,  or  three  small  holes,  or  tubular 
rings,  for  fastening  them  on  other  objects,  probably  on 
clothes.  A  most  frequent  object  here  is  that  which  we 
recognise  in  the  type  on  the  lower  side  of  the  mould,  No. 
162,  p.  107.  There  also  occur  small  cones  of  a  much 
weather-beaten  glass,  which  have  the  very  greatest  simi- 
larity to  the  type  which  we  see  in  that  side  of  the  mould, 
No.  163,  which  is  represented  on  page  109  in  the  upper 
row  to  the  right  of  the  spectator  ;  it  also  resembles  very 
much  the  small  cone,  No.  164,  p.  109,  of  which  a  large 
number  were  found  at  Mycenae ;  the  only  difference  is 
that  the  cones  of  Spata  have  an  impressed  spiral  line, 
whereas  the  cones  of  Mycenae  show  impressed  concentric 
circles.  However,  it  deserves  attention  that  the  mould, 
No.  163,  represents  the  type  of  such  a  cone  with  a  spiral 
line.  But  then,  again,  there  is  the  greatest  difference  in 
the  substance,  for  whilst  at  Spata  all  these  small  orna- 
ments are  of  glass,  the  Mycenean  cones  and  other  objects, 
such  as  Nos.  164,  165,  166  and  167,  are  of  a  hard-baked 
clay,  which  has  been  varnished  with  a  lead  glaze ;  no  trace 
of  glass  having  been  found  at  Mycenae  except  some  small 
glass  beads,  the  small  object,  No.  177,  and  the  almost 
microscopical  tubes  of  cobalt  glass  described  at  pages  157 
and  158.  As,  on  the  other  hand,  there  have  been  found  a 
large  quantity  of  small  ornaments  of  hard-baked  clay 
varnished  with  a  lead-glaze,  we  cannot  reasonably  doubt 
that  the  manufacture  of  glass  at  Mycenae  was  only  in  its 
first  beginning,  that  until  the  capture  of  the  city  (468  B.C.) 
it  made  no  progress  there,  and  that  all  the  types  contained 
in  the  Mycenean  moulds  served  merely  for  the  casting  of 


THE  TOMB  AT  SPATA  xlv 

similar  ornaments  of  baked  clay  varnished  with  a  lead- 
glaze. 

But  there  also  occur  in  the  tomb  at  Spata  objects  of 
blue  cobalt  glass,  some  of  which  are  identical  in  shape  with 
the  object  of  stone  represented  under  No.  172,  p.  m. 

All  these  objects  of  glass  lead  us  to  the  conclusion  that 
the  sepulchre  of  Spata  belongs  to  a  much  later  time  than 
the  royal  tombs  of  Mycenae.  But  we  find  a  much  stronger 
proof  of  this  in  the  carved  works  discovered  in  the  Spata 
sepulchre,  which  are  generally  thought  to  consist  of  ivory, 
but  which  by  the  investigation  of  Professor  Landerer  are 
proved  to  consist  of  common  bone.  All  these  carved 
works  appear  to  belong  to  a  late  period  of  Assyrian  art ; 
perhaps  the  most  remarkable  object  among  them  is  a 
beardless  man's  head  covered  with  a  very  high  Assyrian 
mitre,  the  lower  part  of  which  is  ornamented  all  round  with 
a  diadem,  whilst  the  upper  part  is  divided  by  three  double 
bands  into  four  compartments.  As  usual  in  the  Assyrian 
hair-dress,  the  hair  hangs  down  on  the  neck  in  three  tresses, 
lying  the  one  on  the  other.  I  also  mention  a  comb  5*8  in. 
long,  3*4  in.  broad,  the  upper  part  of  which  is  divided  by 
narrow  borders  into  two  horizontal  compartments;  the 
upper  one  containing  in  the  midst  a  flower  and  on  either 
side  a  female  sphinx ;  the  lower  one  containing  three 
female  sphinxes.  There  are  also  two  bone  plates  with 
female  sphinxes.  All  these  sphinxes  have  very  large  and 
broad  wings  and  exhibit  a  most  excellent  Assyrian  style  of 
art.  In  comparison  with  them  the  golden  sphinxes  of  the 
Mycenean  tombs,  of  which  I  have  represented  one  under 
No.  277,  on  p.  183,  show  a  most  ancient  and  very  primitive 
style  of  art. 

Among  the  carved  works  found  in  the  tomb  at  Spata 
particular  attention  is  due  to  a  plate  of  bone,  on  which  is 
represented  a  lion  devouring  an  ox ;  the  whole  body  of  the 
former  is  represented  as  hovering  in  the  air,  and  his  long 
outstretched  hind-legs  vividly  remind  us  of  the  represen- 


xlvi 


THE  TOMB  AT  SPATA. 


tation  of  the  lions  on  the  Mycenean  goblets  and  plates 
of  gold.  On  the  other  hand  the  lion's  head  and  the  ox 
which  he  devours  most  decidedly  show  an  Assyrian  style 
of  art. 

I  repeat  here  that  no  trace  of  Assyrian  art  was  found  at 
Mycenae. 

Another  of  the  carved  works  from  Spata  which 
deserves  attention  is  a  disk  of  bone  of  4/6  in.  in  diameter, 
with  a  border  formed  by  two  double  lines,  the  whole 
interior  space  being  in  the  form  of  a  net,  divided  by  treble 
wavelike  lines  into  small  triangles. 

Professor  Landerer  asserts  that  these  large  plates  and 
disks  of  bone  prove  beyond  any  doubt  that  the  art  of 
softening  bone  in  water,  and  pressing  it,  and  thus  preparing 
very  large  pieces  of  bone,  was  known  in  Attica  at  a  remote 
antiquity. 

I  still  call  attention,  among  the  objects  found  at  Spata, 
to  the  small  disks  of  stone,  which  have  on  one  side  in  the 
centre  a  small  tube,  and  may  have  been  used  as  ornaments 
on  the  house  doors.  They  are  mostly  similar  to  objects 
which  I  found  at  Mycenae  ;  *  but  they  were  also  found  in 
the  sepulchre  at  Ialysus,  and  may  be  seen  in  the  British 
Museum. 

Of  bronze  arrow-heads  several  specimens  were  found 
in  the  sepulchre  at  Spata,  but  no  trace  of  them  occurred 
in  the  Mycenean  tombs.  On  the  other  hand  there  were 
found  in  one  of  the  latter  the  thirty-five  arrow-heads  of 
obsidian  represented  under  No.  435,  p.  272,  and  arrow- 
heads of  the  same  stone  also  occurred  in  the  debris  above 
the  tombs ;  it  was  only  in  the  upper  layers  of  debris  at 
Mycenae  that  I  found  some  arrow-heads  of  bronze.f 

Among  the  objects  found  at  Spata  I  further  mention 
the  fragment  of  a  vase  of  black  granite,  with  two  holes  for 


*  See  No.  126,  in  the  upper  row  to  the  right  and  left,  p.  76. 
Pages  76,  123. 


THE  TOMB  AT  SPAT  A. 


xlvii 


suspension  ;  fragments  of  similar  vases  occurred  also  at 
Mycenae. 

Close  to  this  tomb  was  discovered  another,  consisting 
of  but  one  small  chamber,  approached  by  a  dromos  which 
has  but  half  the  length  of  that  which  leads  to  the  large 
tomb.  In  the  small  tomb  was  found  the  skeleton  of  a 
man  which  had  evidently  likewise  been  burned  on  a  pyre 
on  the  very  spot  where  it  lay;  there  was  also  found  the 
skeleton  of  a  stag,  but  nothing  more. 

Colonel  Leake  is  in  all  probability  right  in  proclaiming 
the  identity  of  Spata  with  the  ancient  demos  of  Sphettus 
(S</)^tto9  or  !<l>r)TTo<;),  and  as,  according  to  Plutarch,*  the 
fifty  Pallantides,  sons  of  Pallas,  the  brother  of  v^geus, 
marched  from  Sphettus  against  Athens  ;  and  as  Colonel 
Leake,  guided  by  an  inscription  published  by  Finlay, 
identifies  the  site  of  the  demos  of  Pallenae,  which  the 
Pallantides  inhabited,  with  a  spur  of  mount  Hymettus, 
which  bars  the  road  to  Probalinthus  and  Marathon,  and 
is  thus  in  the  immediate  neighbourhood  of  Sphettus 
— for  all  these  reasons  it  has  been  supposed  that  the  tombs 
of  Spata  might  possibly  belong  to  the  Pallantides  killed 
by  Theseus.  But  this  opinion  is  contradicted  by  the 
objects  discovered,  which  make  it  impossible  for  us  to 
attribute  the  large  tomb  to  an  earlier  period  than  the 
eighth  century,  B.C.,  whilst  the  royalty  at  Athens  belongs 
to  a  very  remote  antiquity,  and  must  be  contemporaneous 
with  royalty  at  Mycenae. 

The  use  of  masks  in  antiquity  being  a  question  very 
important  for  Archaeology,  I  cannot  conclude  without 
mentioning  that  my  esteemed  friend  Professor  A.  Rhouso- 
poulos,  of  the  University  of  Athens,  reminds  me  of  a  very 
small  golden  mask  found  last  spring  in  a  sepulchre  on  the 
coast  of  ancient  Phoenicia,  just  opposite  to  the  island  of 
Aradus.    It  had  been  bought  there  by  a  trader  in  antiqui- 


*  Theseus,  13. 


xlviii 


FALL  OF  MYCENAE. 


ties,  who  brought  it  first  to  Athens,  and  showed  it  to  me 
at  Boulogne-sur-Mer,  on  his  way  to  London,  where  he 
intended  to  sell  it.  It  is  of  thin  gold  plate,  and  so  small 
that  it  could  apparently  only  fit  on  the  face  of  a  new-born 
child.  It  represents  a  human  face  with  shut  eyes,  in  very 
rude  repousse  work. 


THE  FALL  OF  MYCENAE  AS  DESCRIBED 
BY  DIODORUS  SICULUS. 

I  give,  at  my  worthy  friend  Professor  F.  A.  Paley's 
suggestion,  a  literal  translation  of  the  account  which 
Diodorus  Siculus  (xi.  65)  gives  us  of  Mycenae's  tragic 
end  : 

"In  the  seventy-eighth  Olympiad  (b.c  468)  a  war  was 
set  on  foot  between  the  Argives  and  the  people  of 
Mycenas,  on  the  following  grounds.  The  Myceneans, 
proud  of  the  high  renown  which  their  own  country  had 
formerly  enjoyed,  refused  to  obey  the  Argives  as  the  other 
cities  in  that  territory  had  done,  but  took  up  an  indepen- 
dent position  and  paid  no  regard  to  the  Argives.  They 
had  disputes  with  them  also  about  the  worship  of  the 
goddess  Hera,  and  put  in  a  claim  to  have  the  sole  con- 
duct and  management  of  the  Nemean  games.  And  still 
further  they  were  at  variance  with  them  because,  when  the 
Argives  had  passed  a  resolution  not  to  aid  the  Spartans  at 
Thermopylae,  unless  they  should  be  allowed  a  share  in  the 
command,  the  Myceneans  alone  of  all  the  inhabitants  of 
Argolis  joined  the  ranks  of  the  Lacedaemonians.  The 
Argives  had  besides  a  general  suspicion  that  some  day  their 
rivals  might  become  too  powerful  and  dispute  with  them 
the  sovereignty,  from  the  former  greatness  of  their  city. 
Such  being  the  motives  for  hostility,  they  had  long  been 
watching  an  opportunity  to  raze  Mycenas  to  the  ground  ; 


FALL  OF  MYCENAE. 


xlix 


and  they  thought  the  fitting  time  had  now  arrived,  as  they 
saw  the  Lacedaemonians  had  been  defeated  and  were  unable 
to  bring  any  aid  to  the  Myceneans.  Accordingly  they 
collected  a  strong  force  from  Argos  and  the  other  states  in 
alliance,  and  led  them  to  the  attack.  The  Myceneans  were 
beaten,  driven  into  the  walls  of  their  city,  and  besieged. 
For  some  time  they  defended  themselves  with  spirit  against 
the  besieging  hosts  ;  but  at  length,  partly  because  they  had 
been  worsted  in  the  war,  partly  because  the  Lacedae- 
monians were  unable  to  aid  them,  from  having  wars  of 
their  own  on  hand,  as  well  as  through  the  disastious  effects 
of  the  earthquakes,  and  having  no  one  now  to  help  them, 
through  mere  deficiency  of  aid  from  without  they  were 
taken  by  assault.  The  Myceneans  were  thus  made  slaves 
by  the  Argives,  a  tithe  of  their  property  was  consecrated 
to  the  service  of  religion,  and  their  city  was  razed  to  the 
ground.  Thus  a  state  that  had  been  great  and  wealthy 
in  times  of  old,  had  numbered  many  illustrious  men  and 
performed  many  glorious  actions,  met  with  its  final 
overthrow,  and  it  has  remained  desolate  up  to  our  times " 
(i.e.,  to  the  time  of  Augustus). 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 


PREFACE,  by  the  Right  Hon.  W.  E.  Gladstone  Page  v 

Dr.  Schliemann's  Account  of  a  Tomb  at  Spata,  in  Attica      ..     ..    „  xli 

The  Fall  of  Mycena?,  as  described  by  Diodorus  Siculus   „  xlviii 

Table  of  French  and  English  Measures    „    l v i i i 

List  of  Illustrations   lix 


CHAPTER  I. 
Excavations  at  Tiryns. 

Situation  of  the  City — Description  by  Pausanias — Cyclopean  Walls  : 
meaning  of  the  epithet  —  The  Quarry  —  The  rock  of  Tiryns  and  its 
bordering  Wall  —  Oalleries,  Gate,  and  Tower — Walls  and  Terraces  of 
the  Acropolis  —  Mythical  traditions  and  History  of  Tiryns  —  Its  destruction 
by  the  Argives  —  Its  connection  with  the  myth  of  Hercules — Morasses  in 
the  Plain  of  Argos  —  The  Walls  of  Tiryns  the  most  ancient  monument  in 
Greece — Pottery  a  test  of  antiquity — Beginning  of  the  Excavations  — 
Cyclopean  house-walls  and  conduits — Objects  discovered  —  Terra-cotta 
cows,  and  female  idols  with  cow's-horns  —  Both  represent  the  goddess 
Hkka  Boiipis —  A  bird-headed  idol  —  A  bronze  figure,  the  only  piece  of 
metal  at  Tiryns,  except  lead  —  No  stone  implements  found  —  Pottery  — 
Hellenic  remains  outside  the  citadel,  which  was  the  primitive  city  — 
Proofs  of  different  periods  of  habitation  —  The  later  city  of  Tiryns  —  The 
archaic  pottery  of  Tiryns  like  that  of  Mycena? — Its  forms  and  decoration 
denote  higher  civilisation  than  the  rude  walls  would  lead  us  to  expect  — 
Older  pottery  on  the  virgin  soil,  but  no  cows  or  idols  — Probable  date  of 
the  second  nation  at  Tiryns,  about  1000  to  800  B.C.  ;  of  the  Cyclopean 
walls,  about  1800  to  1600  B.C.  —  No  resemblance  to  any  of  the  pottery  in 
the  strata  of  Hissarlik,  except  the  goblets — A  human  skeleton  found  — 
Whorls —  Estimate  of  soil  to  be  moved  at  Tiryns — Greater  importance 
of  MYCEN>E   Page  1 

Note  A.—"  Hera  Boopis  "    19 

CHAPTER  II. 

Topography  of  Mycenae. 

gate  of  the  lions  and  treasury  of  atreus. 

The  road  from  Argos  to  Mycenae  —  The  Plain  of  Argos  :  its  rivers  and  hills, 
horses  and  vegetation  — Myth  regarding  its  arid  nature  —  Swamps  in  the 
southern  part  ;  and  fable  of  the  Lcrniean  hydra  —  Early  social  develop- 


Ill 


CONTENTS. 


ment  here  — Legend  of  Phoroneus  —  The  Pelasgian  Argos  — The  Achaean 
states  of  Argos  and  Mycenae  —  Situation  of  Mycenae — The  Citadel  and 
its  Cyclopean  walls  —  The  term  denned  —  "Gate  of  the  Lions" — The 
postern  gate  —  Cisterns  —  Poetical  confusion  of  Argos  and  Mycenae. 
The  Lower  City  :  its  house-walls,  bridge,  treasuries,  and  pottery  —  Its 
partially  enclosing  wall  —  The  undefended  suburb,  and  its  large  buildings 

—  Its  extent  —  The  only  two  wells  in  Mycenae  —  Three  Treasuries  in  the 
suburb  —  Treasuries  in  the  Lower  City — Description  of  the  "  Treasury  of 
Atreus" — Dodwell's  Argument  for  regarding  the  building  as  a  Treasury 

—  Uniqueness  of  these  structures  —  Excavation  of  the  Treasury  by  Veli 
Pasha      Page  23 

CHAPTER  III. 

History  of  Mycen/e  and  the  Family  of  Pelops. 

the  sepulchres  of  agamemnon  and  his  companions. 

Traditional  foundation  of  Mycenae  by  Perseus — -His  dynasty  succeeded  by 
the  Pelopids  —  The  legend  of  their  crimes  unknown  to  Homer  and  Hesiod  — 
The  Homeric  story  of  Agamemnon's  murder  by  ^Egisthus  and  Clytemnestra, 
avenged  by  Orestes — Cycle  of  crimes  devised  by  the  later  bards  — 
Dominion  of  Agamemnon — End  of  the  Dynasty  at  Mycenae  with 
jEgisthus —  Orestes  and  his  sons  —  The  Dorian  invasion —  Part  taken  by 
Mycenae  in  the  Persian  wars  —  The  Argives  besiege  and  take  Mycenae  — 
The  walls  of  the  citadel  preserved  from  religious  reverence  —  Homeric 
epithets  of  Mycenae —  Its  "  abundance  of  gold"  confirmed  by  Thucydides 

—  The  Treasuries  of  the  Pelopids  mentioned  by  Pausanias  —  Treasury 
at  the  Heraeum,  near  Mycenae  —  Probable  existence  of  another  Treasury  at 
Mycenae. 

The  Royal  Sepulchres  described  by  Pausanias  —  General  misinterpretation 
of  the  passage — Experimental  shafts  sunk  there  in  February,  1874  — 
Excavations  begun,  August  7,  1876  —  Porter's  lodge  at  the  Lions'  Gate  — 
The  later  habitation  of  the  city  after  468  B.C.  —  No  coins  of  Mycenae 
known  —  Remains  below  this  first  stratum — Painted  archaic  vases,  like 
those  at  Tiryns  —  The  vases  almost  all  made  on  the  Potter's  wheel  — 
Female  idols  and  cows  of  terra-cotta  —  Other  idols  and  animals- — Iron 
knives  and  curious  keys  of  a  later  period  —  Bronze  knives  and  arrowheads 
■ —  Stone  implements  and  other  objects  —  A  little  gold  and  much  lead 
found  —  Fragments  of  a  lyre  and  flute — Plates  of  ornamented  terra-cotta 
for  lining  walls  —  Cyclopean  house-walls  —  A  remarkable  water-conduit 

—  Twelve  tomblike  reservoirs  —  Two  tombstones  with  bas-reliefs,  probably 
of  the  same  epoch  as  that  over  the  Lions'  Gate    52 

CHAPTER  IV. 

Excavations  in  the  Citadel  of  Mycen/e — continued. 

Wages  and  worth  of  labour  at  Mycenae —  The  double  circle  of  slabs  —  Two 
more  sculptured  stela —  Unsculptured  s;t>la  —  Ashes  and  bones,  probably 
of  sacrifices  —  Fragments  of  other  sculptured  tombstones  —  The  style  of 
these  stela  unique  —  Their  probable  age  about  1 500  B.C.  —  A  Cyclopean 
house  filled  with  ashes,  bones,  &c.  —  Objects  found  there  and  in  the 
twelve  reservoirs  —  Great  significance  of  the  tombstones  found  in  the 


CONTENTS. 


liii 


Acropolis  —  They  mark  the  Royal  Tombs,  mentioned  by  Pausanias 
from  tradition  only  —  Excavation  of  the  Treasury  close  to  the  Lions' 
Gate  :  about  as  large  as  that  of  Atrcus  —  Antiquity  of  the  covering-up 
proved  by  the  ancient  vases,  idols,  &c.  in  the  ddbris  above  —  Hera- 
idols,  and  others,  found  in  the  dromos,  and  in  the  Acropolis  —  Their  vast 
abundance  —  Cow-heads  on  handles  of  vases,  as  at  Troy  —  Moulds  for 
earrings  and  other  ornaments  of  gold  and  silver,  and  curious  clay  cones 
—  Other  ornaments  of  glazed  clay,  potstone,  &c.  —  Numerous  objects 
of  bronze  —  Curious  wheels  —  Necklace  beads  of  various  stones,  with 
intaglios  of  animals,  and  similar  objects  of  other  shapes  —  Two-handled 
goblets  ;  the  fi<'rr«r  <in<l>iKun(\\oi>  of  Homer  —  Depth  of  the  debris — -Breach 

in  the  great  Cyclopean  wall,  repaired  by  an  ancient  wall  of  small  stones  

The  quarry  of  Mycenae   Page  86 


CHAPTER  V. 
Excavations  in  and  near  the  Acropolis — continued. 

THE   LIONS'  OATE  AND  THE  AGORA. 

The  Treasury  excavated  by  Mrs.  Schlieinann  —  Older  and  less  sumptuous 
than  that  of  Atreus  —  The  entrance,  its  ornaments  —  Archaic  pottery 
found  in  the  passage  —  Necklace  beads  —  Fragment  of  a  marble  frieze  -  - 
Threshold  of  the  Lions'  Gate  —  The  great  double  row  of  parallel  slabs, 
probably  not  of  a  remote  antiquity  —  The  Acropolis  only  partly  accessible 
to  chariots —  The  gateway  double,  like  the  Scaean  Gate  at  Troy  —  Cor- 
ridors of  Cyclopean  house-walls — Hera-idols  and  arrow-heads  of  bronze 
and  iron — Door-keeper's  lodge  —  Retaining  walls  —  Tower  of  the  Acro- 
polis resting  on  a  massive  wall — The  double  circle  of  slabs  formed  the 
enclosure  of  the  royal  tombs  and  the  Agora  —  Arguments  in  proof  of  this 
view  —  Objects  of  interest  found  there  —  A  vast  Cyclopean  house  with 
cisterns  and  water  conduit,  probably  the  ancient  Royal  Palace  —  The 
spring  Persei.i  —  No  windows  in  the  house  —  Objects  of  art  and  luxury 
found  there  —  An  onyx  seal-ring  —  Vase-paintings  of  mail-clad  warriors 
—  Hand-made  pottery  in  the  Acropolis   [18 

Note    138 


CHAPTER  VI. 

The  Second  Great  Treasury  ;  Acropolis  ;  and  Cyclopean 
Remains  in  the  Neighbourhood  ok  Mycen.*:. 

Further  excavations  of  Mrs.  Schliemann's  Treasury  The  dromos,  doorway, 
and  threshold  —  Objects  found  there — Hera-idols  —  Cyclopean  water- 
conduits  and  cisterns  in  the  Acropolis — Bronze  rings  —  Pottery  with 
marks  like  letters  -  Earrings  like  those  found  at  Troy — Hand-made 
painted  pottery  —  New  forms  of  Hera-idols  —  Terra-cotta  tripods  and 
cradles,  probably  votive  offerings  —  A  comb,  stilettos  of  opal,  beads  and 
buttons  —  A  bronze  sword  Iron  tongs  of  late  date  —  State  of  the  dt'bris 
left  at  the  Lions'  Gate  —  The  excavations  visited  by  the  Emperor  of  Brazil 
—  Ascent  of  Mount  Eubcea  —  The  Cyclopean  enclosure  on  its  summit  ; 
was  probably  a  very  ancient  sanctuary — Other  Cyclopean  remains  near 
Myccnaj — State  of  the  excavations    '39 

Note      ..    ..    '.   '49 


liv 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER  VII. 

The  First,  Second,  and  Third  Tombs  in  the  Acropolis. 

Discovery  of  the  Tomb  indicated  by  the  three  sculptured  stt'lce — Curious 
gold-covered  buttons,  objects  of  ivory,  baked  clay,  gold,  glass,  bronze,  &c. 

—  Pottery,  both  wheel  and  hand-made  —  Second  Tomb  below  the  un- 
sculptured  stela — Discovery  of  three  human  bodies,  which  had  been 
partially  burnt  where  they  lay —  Fifteen  diadems  of  thin  gold  plate  found 
on  the  bodies  —  Also  crosses  of  golden  laurel-leaves  —  Other  curious 
objects,  proving  a  knowledge  of  the  art  of  glass-working  and  colouring  — 
Knives  of  obsidian  —  A  silver  vase  with  a  bronze  mouth  plated  with  gold, 
and  other  objects  —  Terra-cotta  vases  —  The  horned  Hera-idols  found  in 
the  tomb,  a  proof  of  that  symbolic  worship  in  the  earliest  times  at  Mycenae 
■ —  Its  duration  to  the  last  age  of  the  city —  Primitive  painted  wheel-made 
vases  of  terra-cotta  —  Further  discovery  of  sepulchral  slabs  —  Various 
objects  found  with  them  —  The  Third  Tomb — Several  skeletons  of  men, 
not  burnt,  and  objects  found  with  them  —  A  curious  double-bladed  bronze 
dagger  —  Narrow  escape  from  a  falling  rock  —  Internal  walls  of  the  tomb 

—  Three  skeletons  of  women  in  it,  evidently  burnt  where  they  lay  — 
Laden  with  jewels  of  gold  —  Layers  of  round  plates  of  gold  with  orna- 
mentation of  repousse  work  under  and  over  the  bodies  —  Description  of 
their  many  types  —  The  other  jewels  described  —  Other  chased  and  em- 
bossed beads  —  Golden  griffins  —  Legend  of  the  griffins  of  Indian  origin 

—  Heart-shaped  and  lion-draped  gold  ornaments  —  Curious  brooches 
formed  of  palm-trees,  stags,  and  lions  —  Women  with  pigeons  —  Golden 
cuttle-fish,  butterflies,  swans,  hippocampi,  eagles,  sphinxes,  trees,  and 
birds  —  The  splendid  gold  crown  on  the  head  of  one  of  the  bodies  — 
Signs  upon  it  —  The  second  gold  crown  —  Five  more  diadems  of  gold  — 
Crosses  of  double  leaves  of  gold  —  Golden  stars — -A  gold  brooch,  and 
other  ornaments  —  Necklaces  and  bracelets  —  Two  pairs  of  golden  scales 

—  Golden  plates  —  A  child's  mask  of  gold  ■ —  Other  ornaments  —  Balls, 
&c.  of  rock  crystal,  silver,  and  bronze,  probably  the  handles  of  sceptres  — 
Lentoid  gems  of  agate,  sardonyx,  &c,  with  intaglios  —  A  lentoid  gem  of 
amethyst  engraved  with  a  cow  suckling  her  calf,  as  on  the  old  coins  of 
Corcyra  ■ —  Gold  wheels  —  A  gold  comb  with  bone  teeth,  &c.  —  Amber 
beads  —  Other  ornaments  —  Pieces  of  gold-leaf  strewn  below  and  about 
the  bodies  —  A  gold  goblet  —  A  curious  gold  box,  and  gold  vases  with 
lids  fastened  on  by  wires  —  A  silver  vase  and  golden  sceptre-handle — 
Boxes  of  copper-plate  filled  with  wood,  perhaps  pillows  for  the  dead 
bodies  —  Other  objects  found  in  the  third  sepulchre  —  Hand-made  and 
very  ancient  wheel-made  pottery   Page  1 50 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

The  Fourth  Tomb  in  the  Acropolis  of  Mycenae. 

Further  search  within  the  Agora,  without  the  guide  of  tombstones  — 
Discovery  of  an  altar  of  Cyclopean  masonry,  over  the  centre  of  the  great 
Fourth  Tomb,  containing  the  bodies  of  five  men,  burnt  where  they  lay, 
laden  with  jewels,  and  covered  with  a  layer  of  white  clay  —  Objects  found 

—  Copper  caldrons,  one  containing  100  gold-plated  buttons  with  intaglio 
work- — Homeric  mention  of  caldrons  —  A  silver  cow's  head  with  gold 


CONTENTS. 


Iv 


horns  and  a  gold  sun  on  its  forehead  :  it  represents  Hera  —  Cow-heads 
with  axes  —  Swords  and  lances  of  bronze  —  Gold-plated  wooden  sword- 
sheaths  and  hilts  with  gold  pins  —  Three  masks  of  gold  covering  the  faces 
of  the  bodies  —  A  fourth  mask,  representing  a  lion's  head  —  Two  seal- 
rings  and  a  bracelet,  with  ornaments  —  The  state  of  art  corresponds  with 
that  described  in  Homer  —  Golden  breastplates  on  two  of  the  bodies  — 
Golden  crown  by  the  head  of  another  —  Golden  ornament  of  the  greaves 

—  Borax  used  then,  as  now,  for  soldering  gold  —  More  than  one  fifVny 
(ifjL<j)iKV7rt\\ov,  and  other  vessels  of  gold  and  silver  — ■  The  large  gold  goblet, 
with  doves  on  the  two  handles,  like  Nestor's  cup  in  the  Iliad  —  Two- 
handled  terra-cotta  vases,  hand-made,  like  those  at  Troy  —  Ornaments  of 
alabaster  —  Gold  shoulder-belts  (t* \n\iu>v( t)  —  Other  objects  found  in  the 
tomb,  of  rock  crystal,  amber,  alabaster  —  Golden  diadems,  some  seem- 
ingly for  children  ;  also  a  child's  belt  and  frontlet,  or  "  belle  Hdlene,"  and 
other  ornaments  of  gold  — ■  Double  edged  battle-axes  —  Their  use  by  the 
Greeks  as  a  symbol,  especially  at  Tenedos  —  A  funeral  fork  of  copper  — 
Vase-lids  of  bone  —  Vessel  of  silver  and  lead  in  shape  of  an  animal  — 
Buttons  of  wood,  plated  with  gold,  splendidly  ornamented  —  Their  patterns 
and  workmanship-  Hundreds  of  gold  flowers,  plain  buttons,  and  other 
ornaments  of  gold  —  Larger  gold  buttons,  splendidly  ornamented  —  Leaves 
of  gold  strewn  under,  over,  and  around  the  bodies  —  Wooden  comb  with 
gold  handle  —  Gold  models  of  temples  —  Many  golden  cuttle-fish  —  Gold 
knobs  for  sword  hilts,  highly  ornamented  —  Arrow-heads  of  obsidian  — 
Boars'  teeth —  Large  copper  vessels  —  Custom  of  placing  such  vessels  in 
tombs — A  copper  tripod  —  Uses  of  tripods  in  Homer — Bronze  swords, 
lances,  and  knives  —  Some  swords  with  parts  of  their  wooden  sheaths, 
alabaster  handle-knobs,  golden  studs,  &c.  —  Remnants  of  linen  sheaths  — 
Oyster-shells  and  unopened  oysters  —  Broken  pottery,  indicative  of  a  still 
existing  funeral  custom  —  The  bones  of  the  deceased  —  Alabaster  vases 

—  Hand-made  and  very  ancient  wheel-made  pottery  —  Fragments  of  a 
characteristic  form  of  goblet,  both  of  terra-cotta  and  of  gold  —  Another 
type  of  goblets  —  Two  whetstones  —  A  handle  of  unique  work,  gold  en- 
crusted with  rock  crystal,  "  davfia  ItiaBm."  Page  211 

Note  on  thk  Royal  Palace   


CHAPTER  IX. 

Thk  Fifth  Sepulchre,  and  the  First  again. 

At  length  again  a  guard  and  watchfire  on  the  Acropolis  of  Mycenae  — 
Exploration  of  the  Fifth  Tomb— lis  sepulchral  stela:  —  The  tomb 
described  ;  containing  only  one  body  —  Golden  diadem  and  other  objects 
found  in  the  tomb  —  Hand-made  vases  of  terra-cotta;  one  with  female 
breasts,  like  the  prehistoric  vases  at  Santorin  and  Troy  —  Wheel- made 
pottery  —  Excavation  of  the  First  Tomb  completed  —  Its  position  and  • 
construction.  Three  bodies  in  it  :  the  middle  one  has  been  disturbed  and 
rifled  of  its  ornaments  -  Large  size  of  the  bodies— Golden  mask  and 
state  of  the  first —  Wonderful  preservation  of  the  third— Its  ponderous 
gold  mask,  face,  and  teeth  —  Description  of  the  body  — its  remarkable 
compression— Golden  breast-plate,  and  leaves  of  gold  on  the  forehead, 
eyes,  and  breast  —  Excitement  caused  by  the  discovery  —  Measures  taken 
to  preserve  and  remove  the  body— Its  shoulder  belt  and  bronze  sword 


Ivi 


CONTENTS. 


with  crystal  ornament,  and  disks  of  gold  for  the  sheath  :  all  special  funeral 
ornaments,  and  not  for  ordinary  use  —  Description  of  the  golden  breast- 
covers  of  this  and  the  first  body — Highly-decorated  bronze  swords  and 
other  objects  found  with  the  third  body  —  Ornamented  golden  leaves, 
a  wooden  comb,  and  bronze  swords,  with  the  second  body  — ■  A  large 
heap  of  broken  bronze  swords,  with  knives  and  lances  —  Other 
weapons,  chiefly  in  fragments  —  Amber  and  gold  beads,  and  various 
objects  of  gold  and  silver  —  An  alabaster  vase — Wonderful  plates  of  gold 
—  The  two  massive  golden  masks  of  the  first  tomb  —  The  skilled  work 
argues  a  long-trained  school  of  artists  —  Several  large  goblets  of  gold  and 
silver — Objects  in  this  sepulchre  —  A  silver  vase,  with  copper  and  gold 
plating  —  A  drinking-cup  of  alabaster — Plates  of  gold,  in  form  of  double 
eagles,  &c. —  Fragments  of  silver  vases  ;  one  with  a  gold  mouthpiece  and 
handle  —  A  splendidly  ornamented  plate  of  gold,  covering  a  cylinder  of 
charred  wood — Hundreds  of  gold-button-plates,  large  and  small,  with 
various  ornamentation  —  The  new  types  shown  —  Gold  plates,  ribbons, 
and  ornaments  for  greaves  —  Tubes  and  buttons  of  bone  ;  their  probable 
use —  An  ivory  plate,  and  a  curious  object  of  glazed  Egyptian  porcelain  — 
Hand-made  and  wheel-made  pottery — Seven  large  copper  vessels, 
caldrons  and  cans  —  A  quadrangular  wooden  box,  with  most  interesting 
reliefs  Page  289 


CHAPTER  X. 

Connection  of  the  Five  Tombs  with  the  Royal  House  of 
Pelops  ;  and  Date  of  the  Agora. 

Discussion  of  the  identity  of  the  five  tombs  with  those  mentioned  by 
Pausanias  as  the  tombs  of  Agamemnon  and  his  companions — Opinions 
of  scholars  about  the  Trojan  War  —  The  ancients  unanimous  for  its 
reality  —  The  author's  faith  in  the  traditions  led  to  his  discovery  of  Troy 
and  of  the  five  Royal  Tombs  at  Mycenae  —  The  civilisation  of  Mycenae 
higher  than  that  of  Troy  — The  pottery  of  both  very  primitive —  Alphabetic 
writing  known  at  Troy,  but  not  at  Mycenae  —  The  different  civilisations 
may  have  been  contemporaneous  —  The  appearances  in  the  tombs  prove 
the  simultaneous  death  of  those  interred,  certainly  in  each  tomb,  and 
probably  in  all  the  five — Tiaditional  veneration  for  the  sepulchres  — 
Monuments  repeatedly  placed  over  them  —  No  tombs  between  the  two 
circular  rows  of  slanting  slabs  which  formed  the  enclosure  of  the  Agora 
and  its  benches  —  Agora  probably  erected  when  the  tombstones  were 
renewed,  and  the  altar  built  over  the  fourth  tomb,  under  the  influence  of 
the  enthusiasm  created  by  the  Rhapsodists  —  These  monuments  buried  in 
the  course  of  time,  but  the  memory  of  the  site  was  fresh  by  tradition  long 
after  the  destruction  of  the  new  city  of  Mycenae —  Testimony  of  Pausanias 

—  The  enormous  treasures  prove  the  sepulchres  to  be  royal,  but  royalty 
at  Mycenae  ended  with  the  Dorian  invasion  —  This  must  have  been  much 
earlier  than  the  received  date,  1104  B.C.  —  An  objection  answered  — 
Honours  paid  to  the  remains  of  murdered  princes  even  by  their  murderers 

—  Custom  of  burying  the  dead  with  their  treasures  —  The  sepulchral 
treasure  of  Palestrina  —  The  sepulchre  of  Nitocris  at  Babylon  —  Case 
of  Pyrrhus  and  the  royal  sepulchres  at  ^Egea5  —  The  sepulchre  at 
Corneto   333 


CONTENTS. 


Ivii 


CHAPTER  XI. 

Treasure  of  the  Tomb  South  of  the  Agora. 

Discovery  and  description  of  another  tomb  in  the  Acropolis  outside  the 
Agora — Its  Cyclopean  masonry  like  that  of  the  five  sepulchres  —  The 
golden  trinkets  of  this  tomb  —  Double-handled  goblets  —  A  plain  gold  cup 
(<f>id\r))  —  Spirals  and.  rings  of  gold  and  silver  wire,  like  those  of  the 
Egyptian  tombs  —  A  golden  seal-ring  covered  with  intaglio-work — -Its 
full  description  —  The  face-covers  of  the  female  figures  prove  the  use  of 
masks  during  life — A  figure  meant  for  a  Palladium — Six  other  rude 
figures  resembling  the  Trojan  idols  :  their  likeness  to  the  "  Corinthian 
helmet"  of  Athena  —  The  work  of  this  ring  calls  to  mind  Homer's 
description  of  the  shield  of  Achilles  —  A  smaller  golden  signet-ring,  with 
four  Palladia  and  three  Hera-idols  —  A  beautiful  lion  of  massive  gold  — 
Gold  necklace  beads  —  Bones  of  animals  found  in  this  tomb — The  human 
remains  probably  removed  when  the  water  conduit  was  built,  but  the 
small  jewel-recess  escaped  being  rifled  —  Three  curious  lentoid  gems  of 
necklaces,  one  found  on  the  site  of  Phcenice",  the  others  near  the  ancient 
Hera:um  —  The  first  represents  Phoenician  figures-- Description  of  the 
other  two  —  The  Cyclopean  foundations  of  the  ancient  Herx'um,  probably 
as  old  as  the  walls  of  Tiryns  and  Mycena; —  It  was  destroyed  by  fire  in 
423  B.C.,  and  its  site  deserted 

•  Telegrams  to  and  from  the  King  of  Greece  —  Conclusion    ..     ..  Page  350 

Analysis  of  Mycenean  Metals   367 

•  Index    377 


Note  to  Page  145. 

With  reference  to  the  visit  paid  to  the  excavations  at  Mycena;  by  the 
Emperor  of  Brazil,  I  feel  bound  to  mention  the  renewed  mark  of  his 
Majesty's  interest  in  the  discoveries,  when  he  did  me  the  signal  honour  of 
visiting  my  lodgings  in  London  on  June  22,  1877.  His  Majesty  spent  two 
hours  in  examining  with  great  attention  my  large  Album  of  Mycenean 
photographs,  and  repeatedly  congratulated  me  on  the  results  of  my 
excavations. 

H.  S. 


11 


COMPARATIVE  TABLE  OF  FRENCH  AND  ENGLISH 
MEASURES,  EXACT  AND  APPROXIMATE. 


Metric. 

Inches. 



Ft. 

Inch. 



Approximate. 

Millimetre  . 

0-0393708 

;> 

*°3937 

'  04  Or        of  inch. 

Centimetre . 

°'3937°8 

>! 

'39371 

.  2 

4   )>  5  »> 

Decimetre  . 

3'937°8 

5) 

3 

"  93  7 1 

4  inches. 

Metre  . 

39*3708 

3 

3 

3700 

3s feet- 

2 

78-7416 

6 

A 

u 

7410 

3 

1 18 ' 1 1 24 

9 

I  0 

I  I  24 

10  „ 

4 

iS7"4832 

13 

4°3^ 

13  „ 

5 

196-8540 

ID 

4 

0540 

l6i  » 

6 

236 ' 2248 

x9 

2 
0 

2  248 

J9f  „ 

7 

275'5956 

22 

1 1 

•5956 

23  „ 

o 

314-9664 

20 

2 

■  9664 

9 

354'3372 

29 

6 

'3372 

29^  „ 

IO 

393 '7089 

32 

9 

7080 

33  „ 

1 1 

AX  X • 0788 

36 
0 

1 

0788 

36  (12  yds.) 
39  1  feet. 

12 

472-4496 

39 

4 

4496 

l3 

511 -8204 

42 

7 

8204 

42f  „ 

14 

55*' *9" 

45 

1 1 

I912 

46  „ 

49?  „ 

15 

590-5620 

49 

2 

5620 

16 

620-9328 

52 

5 

9328 

52^  „ 

17 

669*3036 

55 

9 

3°36 

55?  » 

18 

708-6744 

59 

0 

6744 

59  » 

19 

748-0452 

62 

4 

0452 

62^  „ 

20 

787-416 

65 

7 

4160 

6Sf  » 

3° 

1 i8r ' 124 

98 

5 

124 

98^  „ 
i3?i  „ 

40 

I574'832 

2 

832 

5o 

1968-54 

164 

0 

54 

l64  „ 

100 

3937 '08 

328 

1 

08 

328  (109yds.) 

N.B. — The  following  is  a  convenient  approximate  rule  : — "To  turn 
Metres  into  Yards,  add  i-nth  to  the  number  of  Metres." 


LIST   OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


Plate  I.  The  Acropolis  of  Tiryns    ..        ..        ..     To  face  i 

Plate  II.  The  West  Side  of  the  Acropolis  of  Mycenae    „  23 
Plate  III.  The  Gate  of  the  Lions  ..        ..        ..        „  32 

Plate  IV.  The  Treasury  of  Atreus  ..        ..        ,,  43 

Plate  V.  The  Treasury  near  the  Lions'  Gate,  excavated 

by  Mrs.  Schliemann  ..         ..         ..         ..  Frontispiece 

Plate  VI.  Ichnography  of  the  Royal  Tombs  within  the 

Circle  of  the  Agora       ..        ..        ..        ..     To  face  124 

Plate  VII.  Panoramic  View  of  Dr.  Schliemann's  Excavations 

in  the  Acropolis  of  Mycenae  ..        ..         ..        ..     To  face  148 

Chapter  I — Tiryns. 

Vignette. — No.  1.  Map  of  Argolis 
No.  2.  Terra-cotta  Cow,  Tiryns  .. 

Nos.  3-7.  Terra-cotta  Cows,  „ 
Nos.  8-1 1.  Terra-cotta  Idols,  „ 
No.  12.  Bronze  Figure,  „ 
Nos.  13,  14.  Terra-cotta  Vessels,  „ 
No.  15.  Stone  Whorl,  found  at  Mycenae  .. 

Chapter  II. — Mycenje. 
Vignette. — No.  16.  Ruins  of  the  Cyclopean  Bridge  at  Mycenae  23 


No  17.  Walls  of  the  First  Period    29 

No.  18.  Walls  of  the  Second  Period    3° 

No.  19.  Walls  of  the  Third  Period    3° 

No.  20.  Entrance  to  the  ogive-like  Gallery  in  the  Walls  of  the 

Citadel  of  Mycenae                                                  ••  32 

No.  21.  Gate  of  the  Lions                                       ••        ••  32 


1 

10 
11 
1 2 

17 
18 


Ix 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


PAGE 

No.  22.  Plan  of  the  Gate  of  the  Lions    ..        ..  ..  ..  34 

No.  22a.  Right  and  Left  Door-posts  of  the  Gate  of  Lions  ..  35 

No.  23.  Elevation  and  Plan  of  the  Postern  Gate  ..  ..  35 

No.  23a.  Terra-cotta  Vase          ..        ..        ..  ..  ..  51 

Chapter  III. — Mycenae. 

Vignette. — No.  24.  First  of  the  Tombstones  found  above  the 

Sepulchres  in  the  Acropolis    ..         ..         ..  ..  ..  52 

No.  25.  Terra-cotta  Vase  ..         ..         ..         ..  ..  ..  64 

No.  26.  Terra-cotta  Jug    ..         ..         ..         ..  ..  ..  65 

No.  27.  Vase  of  Yellow  Ware,  with  black  and  yellow  lines  ..  66 

No.  28.  Vase  of  Black  and  Yellow  Ware           ..  ..  ..  67 

No.  29.  Terra-cotta  vase.    The  bands  yellow  and  reddish,  the 

lines  black       ..        ..        ..        ..        ..  ..  ..  67 

Plate  VIII. — Nos.  30-34.  Fragments  of  Painted  Vases.  End  of  Volume 
Plate  IX.— Nos.  35-39. 

Plate  X. — Nos.  40-47.               „                „  „ 

Plate  XI. — Nos.  48-54.             „                „  „ 

Plate  XII. — Nos.  55-61.            „                „  „ 

Plate  XIII. — Nos.  62-67.           „                „  „ 
Plate  XIV— Nos.  68-72.  „ 

Plate  XV. — Nos.  73-78.            „                „  „ 

No.  80.  Painted  Vase    68 

No.  81.  Human  Head  on  the  Mouth  of  a  Jug    ..  ..  ..  69 

No.  82.  Human  Head  on  a  Potsherd      ..        ..  ..   •  69 

No.  83.  Go'blet  of  Terra-cotta      ..        ..        ..  ..  .  70 

Nos.  84-89.  Fragments  of  Painted  Pottery        ..  ..  ..  71 

Plate  XVI. — Nos.  90-93.  Terra-cotta  Idols      ..  End  of  Volume 

Plate  XVII.— Nos.  94-98.  „ 

Plate  XVIII. — Nos.  99-102.          „              ..  ..  „ 

Plate  XIX. — Nos.  103-110.           „              ..  ..  „ 

No.  in.  Terra-cotta  Idol  ..        ..        ..        ..  ..  ..  72 

Nos.  112,  113.  Terra-cotta  Figures         ..        ..  ..  ..  73 

Nos.  114-119.  Terra-cotta  Figures  of  Animals  ..  ..  ..  74 

No.  120.  Objects  in  Bronze,  Lead,  and  Iron      ..  ..  ..  74 

Nos.  121-125.  Bronze  Knives      ..         ..         ..  ..  ..  75 

No.  126.  Arrow-heads,  Hatchets,  and  other  objects  of  stone  ..  76 

No.  127.  Fragment  of  a  Lyre  of  Bone    ..        ..  ..  ..  78 

Nos.  128,  129.  Lower  and  Upper  Ends  of  a  Flute  ..  ..  78 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

No.  130a.  Another  part  of  the  same  Flute 

Nos.  130-136.  Combs  and  Needles  of  Terra-cotta 

Nos.  137-139.  Terra-cotta  Ornaments 

No.  140.  Second  Tombstone,  found  above  the  Sepulchres  in  the 
Acropolis 

No.  140a.  Pattern  of  straight  and  spiral  frets 


Chapter  IV. — Mycen>e. 

Vignette. — No.  141.  Third  Tombstone,  found  above  the  Sepul- 
chres in  the  Acropolis           ..         ..         ..        ..        ..  86 

No.  142.  Fourth  Tombstone,  found  above  the  Sepulchres  in  the 

Acropolis        ..         ..         ..         ..         ..        ..         ..  91 

No.  143.  Piece  of  a  Tombstone  ..         ..         ..         ..        ..  92 

No.  144.             „    93 

No.  145.             „    94 

Nos.  146-148.  Three  Pieces  of  Tombstones      ..        ..        ..  95 

Nos.  149-150.  Fragments  of  Tombstones         ..         ..        ..  96 

No.  151.  Piece  of  a  quadrangular  Column  of  Red  Porphyry   ..  97 

Nos.  152-154.  Fragments  of  Friezes      ..        ..        ..        ..  98 

No.  155.  Jasper  Weight,  with  a  hole  for  suspension      ..         ..  100 

No.  156.  Fragment  of  a  perforated  Terra-cotta  Vase    ..         ..  iot 

No.  157.  Piece  of  a  Painted  Vase,  from  the  "  dromos  "  of  the 

Treasury  near  the  Lions'  Gate         ..         ..        ..         ..  103 

No.  158.  Fragment  of  the  same  Pottery  from  the  "  dromos"    ..  103 
No.  159.  Idol  of  Terra-cotta,  with  a  Cow's  Head,  on  the  handle 

of  a  Vase       ..        ..                 ..        ..        ..        ..  104 

No.  160.  Idol  of  Terra-cotta  with  a  Cow's  Head          ..         ..  105 

No.  161.  Cow-headed  Idols  of  Hera       ..         ..        ..         ..  106 

No.  162.  Two  faces  of  a  Granite  Mould  for  casting  various 

ornaments       ..        ..         ..         ..         ..         ..  107 

No.  163.  Four  faces  of  a  six-sided  Mould  of  Basalt      ..         ..  109 

Nos.  164-166.  Ornaments  of  Glazed  Clay         ..         ..         ..  109 

Nos.  167-169.         „                   ,                 ••                  ••  1 10 

Nos.  170-172.         „                  „                 ••        ••        ••  "> 

No.  173.  Double-edged  Hatchet  of  Bronze        ..         ..         ..  in 

Nos.  174-181.  Lentoid  Gems      ..        ..        ..        ..        ..  112 

Nos.  182-189.  Lentoid  Gems,  Cylinder,  and  Beads      ..        ..  113 

No.  190.  A  Disk  of  Terra-cotta,  with  the  appearance  of  an 

Inscription      ..         ..         ••        ••         •■        ••         ••  ll5 

No.  190a.  Pattern  of  the  Slabs  forming  the  Double  Parallel 

Circle  enclosing  the  Agora    ..         ..        ..        ..        ••  "7 


ki 

['AGE 

79 
79 
79 

81 

83 


Ixii 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


Chapter  V.  — Mycenae. 

PAGE 

Vignette. — No.  191.  The  Village  of  Charvati,  with  the  ancient 

Quarry  of  Mycenas     ..         ..         ..         ..         ..         ..  118 

•n        w     vt  (Fragments  of  Painted  Pottery  from 

Plate  XX. — Nos.  102-197.        ,&    A  ,  m  3 

„        _____     XT         „         {    the  Approach  to  the  Treasury 
Plate  XXI. — Nos.  198-204  .f   T  ■     ,  ^  .       ^  j  J  ir  7 

\    near  the  Lions  Gate     hna  of  Volume 

Nos.  205-209.  Beads  of  Glass  and  Fluor-spar    ..        ..  ..  121 

No.  210.  Threshold  of  the  Gate  of  Lions         ..        ..  ..  121 

No.  210a.  Slanting  Bench  of  the  Agora  ..        ..        ..  ..  125 

No.  211.  A  Fish  of  Wood . .        ..        ..        ..        ..  ..  129 

No.  212.  A  curious  Idol    ..        ..        ..        ..        ..  ..  129 

No.  213.  Fragments  of  a  Painted  Vase  representing  armed 

Warriors         ..         ..         ..         ..         ..         ..  ..  133 

No.  213  a,  b.  A  very  frequent  type  of  Mycenean  Painted  Pottery  138 


Chapter  VI. — Mycenae. 

Vignette. — No.  214.  Other  Fragments  of  the  Vase  (No.  213)  139 
Nos.  215,  216.  Fragments  of  Friezes  of  blue  and  white  marble, 

found  in  the  Treasury  near  the  Lions'  Gate  ..         ..         ..  140 

Nos.  217-220.  Bronze  Rings  (two  with  intaglio  engravings),  and 

a  twisted  Gold  Wire   ..  ..        ..        ..        ..  142 

No.  221.  Bronze  Sword     ..        ..        ..        ..        ..        ..  144 


Chapter  VII. — Sepulchres  I.  II.  III.* 

Vignette. — No.  222.  Fragment  of  a  Wooden  Box      ..        ..  150 

No.  223.  Plan  of  Tombstones  in  the  First  Tomb  ..  ..  151 
Nos.  224-229.  Objects  of  ivory,  bone,  or  metallic  composition. 

Sepulchre  I.      ..         ..         ..         ..        ..         ..         ..  153 

No.  230.  Foot  of  a  black  hand-made  Goblet.    Sepulchre  I.      ..  154 

No.  231.  Cross  of  Golden  Laurel  Leaves.  Sepulchre  II.  ..  157 
Nos.  232,  233.  Fragments  of  a  very  ancient  wheel-made  Vase. 

Sepulchre  II.    ..         . .         . .         . .         . .         . .         . .  160 

No.  234.  Plan  of  Tombstones  above  the  Third  Tomb  ..        ..  161 

No.  235.  Piece  of  Ornamented  Ivory      ..         ..         ..         ..  162 

Nos.  236,  237.  Hand-made  Vases  of  Terra-cotta         ..        ..  163 


*  All  the  objects  figured  in  the  Illustrations  to  this  Chapter,  from  and  after  No.  239, 
belong  to  the  Third  Sepulchre. 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


Ixiii 


No.  238.  Large   Bronze  Dagger,  with   two  blades  soldered 

together  in  the  middle  ..         ..  ti  l64 

No.  239.  Plate  of  Gold    ..        ..  .. 

No.  240.       „       „        A  Cuttlefish   :66 

No.  241.       „       „        A  Flower    T67 

No.  242.       „       ,   l6; 

No.  243.       „       „        A  Butterfly   l6g 

No.  244.       „       „    l68 

No.  245.       „       ,   l69 

No.  246.       „       „    l69 

No.  247.  Leaf  in  Gold  Plate        ..        ..        ..        ..        „  Xj0 

No.  248.  Leaf  Pattern  in  Gold  Plate      ..        ..        ..        ..  j-j0 

No.  249.         „  „    1?I 

No.  250.        „  „    I?I 

No.  251.  Star  in  Gold  Plate        ..        ..        ..        ..        ..  Xy2 

No.  252.  Plate  of  Gold  ..        ..        ..        ..        ..  i-j2 

Nos.  253-255.  Perforated  Ornaments  of  Gold,  with  Engravings 

in  Intaglio      ..        ..        ..        ..        ..        ..  .. 

Nos.  256-260.  Golden  Ornaments         ..         ..        ..        ..  176 

No.  261.  Golden  Ornament.    A  Griffin  ..        ..        ..        ..  177 

Nos.  262,  263.  Golden  Ornaments.    Heart  and  Lion   ..        ..  178 

Nos.  264,  265.  Golden  Ornaments         ..         ..         ..         ..  179 

No.  266.  Golden  Ornament         ..         ..        ..         ..        ..  180 

Nos.  267,  268.  Golden  Ornaments.    Women  with  Doves  180 

No.  269.  Golden  Ornament        ..        ..        ..        ..        ..  181 

Nos.  270,  271.    Two  Golden  Cuttle  Fish         ..         ..        ..  181 

No.  272.  Flying  Griffin  of  Gold   ..         ..         ..         ..         ..  182 

No.  273.  Golden  Ornament        ..         ..        ..        ..        ..  182 

Nos.  274-280.  Golden  Ornaments         ..        ..        ..         ..  183 

No.  28  r.  Splendid  Crown  of  Gold,  found  on  the  head  of  one  of 

the  three  persons  interred  in  the  Third  Sepulchre  ..  ..  185 
No.  282.  Golden  Diadem,  found  on  the  head  of  another  body  in 

the  Third  Sepulchre   186 

Nos.  283,284.  Diadems  of  Gold   188 

No.  285.  Cross  in  Gold  Plate    189 

Nos.  286-288.  Ornaments  of  Gold    19° 

Nos.  289,290.  Golden  Crosses   ..        ..        ..        ..  191 

No.  291.  Cross  of  Gold    ..        ..        ..        ..        ..        ••  192 

No.  292.  Golden  Brooch  ..        ..        ..        ..        ..        ••  193 

No.  293.  Golden  Ornament  from  the  Third  Sepulchre  ..        ..  194 


Ixiv  LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

PAGE 

No.  294.  Golden  Cross     ..        ..        ..        ..        ..  ..  194 

Nos.  295-300.  Golden  Hair-holders,  Bracelets,  and  Ornaments 

of  Necklaces   ..        ..        ..        ..        ..        ..  ..  196 

Nos.  301,  302.  Golden  Balances  ..        ..        ..        ..  ..  197 

Nos.  303-306.  Golden  Ornaments          ..         ..         ..  ..  199 

Nos.  307,  308.  Objects  of  Rock  Crystal  ..        ..        ..  ..  200 

Nos.  30*9,  310.  Sceptres  of  Silver  plated  with  Gold,  with  Handles 

of  Rock  Crystal         ..         .          ..         ..        ..  ..  201 

Nos.  3 1 1-3 1 5.  Beads  of  Agate  and  Lentoid  Gems  of  Sardonyx 

and  Amethyst  ..         ..         ..        ..         ..        ..  202 

No.  316.  Golden  Wheel    ..        ..        ..        ..        ..  ..  203 

Nos.  317,  318.  Goblet  and  Box  of  Gold  ..        ..        ..  ..  205 

No.  319.  Golden  Vase,  with  lid  attached  by  a  golden  wire  ..  206 

Nos.  320-322.  Three  Golden  Vessels      ..         ..         ..  ..  207 

No.  323.  Box  of  Copper  Plate,  filled  with  wood  . .        ..  ..  208 

No.  324.  Vessel  of  Terra-Cotta    ..        ..        ..        ..  ..  209 

No.  325.  Object  of  Alabaster      ..        ..        ..        ..  ..  209 

Chapter  VIII. — Sepulchre  IV. 

Vignette. — No.  326.  Golden  Mask  in  the  form  of  a  Lion's 

Head   ..        ..        ..        ..        ..        ..        ..  ..  211 

No.  327.  Cow's  Head  of  Silver,  with  Horns  of  Gold     ..  ..  216 

No.  328.  Another  View  of  the  Cow's  Head       ..        ..  ..  217 

Nos.  329,  330.  Two  Golden  Cow-Heads,  with  double  axes  ..  218 

No.  331.  Mask  of  Gold,  found  on  the  face  of  a  body    ..  ..•  220 

No.  332.  Gold  Mask        ..        ..        ..        ..  ..  221 

No.  333     b.  Two  Gold  Signet  Rings     ..        ..        ..  ..  223 

Nos.  334,  335.  Intaglios  on  the  Signet  Rings     ..        ..  ..  223 

No.  336.  Bracelet  of  Gold ..        ..        ..        ..        ..  ..  227 

No.  337.  Splendid  Crown  of  Gold  found  close  to  the  head  of 

one  of  the  bodies  in  the  Fourth  Sepulchre  ..        ..  ..  229 

No.  338.  Human  Thigh-bone,  with  a  Gold  Ornament  of  the 

greaves  still  attached  to  it     ..        ..        ..        ..  ..  230 

No.  339.  Golden  Goblet  with  two  handles        ..        ..  ..  231 

No.  340.  Golden  Goblet  with  one  handle          ..        ..  ..  232 

No.  341.  Golden  Wine-Flagon     ..        ..        ..        ..  ..  232 

No.  342.  Golden  Cup      ..        ..         ..        ..        ..  ..  233 

No.  343.  Plain  Massive  Cup  of  Gold      ..        ..        ..  ..  233 

No.  344.  Large  Massive  Gold  Goblet  with  two  handles  ..  234 

No.  345.  Gold  Cup  with  one  handle       ..        ..        ..  ..  236 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS.  ]Xx 
Dblet  w; 

No.  347.  Large  Gold  Cup 


No.  346.  Golden  Goblet  with  two  doves  on  the  handles 

J3/ 


No.  348.  Large  Silver  Goblet,  richly  plated  with  gold  "  ^ 
No.  349.  Hand-made  Vase  of  Terra-cotta 

XT                                                                                                            *'•••«  24O 

Nos.  350,  351.  Objects  of  Egyptian  Porcelain,  of  unknown  use  241 

No.  352.  Alabaster  Model  of  a  sort  of  Scarf  tied  in  a  noose     ..  242 

No.  353.  Silver  Flagon  

No.  354.  Gold  Model  of  a  Shoulder  Belt 
No.  355.  Amber  Necklace-beads  .. 

No.  356.  Large  three-handled  Vase  of  Alabaster,  recomposed  ^ 

from  the  Fragments             ..  2  6 

5*8*  357,  358-  Belt  and  «  Belle  Helene"  of  Gold         ..        '.  248 

Nos.  559-365.  Various  Ornaments  of  Gold  ..  2So 
No.  366.  Highly-decorated    Golden    Cylinder,    probably  the 

handle  of  a  sword  or  sceptre  ..         ..  2-, 

Nos.  367-370.  Golden  Ornaments                  ..  2_3 

Nos.  371,  372.  Objects  of  Copper    255 

Nos.  373-375-  Two  Bone  Lids  of  Jars  and  a  piece  of  an 

Alabaster  Vase  ..  .. 

No.  376.  Stag,  of  an  alloy  of  silver  and  lead  2j7 
Nos.  377-386.  Buttons  of  Wood,  covered  with  plates  of  gold, 

highly  ornamented   2s8)  2J9 

Nos.  387-401.  Plates  of  Gold   '  z63 

Nos.  402-413.  Gold  Buttons       ..         ..         ..  2(), 

Nos.  414-422*7.    „        „    2(55 

No.  423.  Model  of  a  Temple  in  Gold   267 

No.  424.  A  Cuttlefish  in  Gold      ..         ..         ..         ..  268 

Nos.  425,  426.  Two  halves  of  a  whorl-shaped  object  of  thick 

Gold  Plate      ..        ..         ..        ..        ..         >#  20g 

Nos.  427-434.  Gold  Covers  of  the  Knobs  of  Sword-handles       269-27 1 

No.  435.  Arrow-heads  of  Obsidian         ..         ..         ..  272 

No.  436.  Large  Copper  Vessel     ..         ..         ..         ..        ..  274 

No.  437.  Two  large  Copper  Vessels  stuck  together      ..         ..  275 

No.  438.  Large  Copper  Vessel  with  three  handles        ..         ..  275 

No.  439.  Large  two-handled  Vessel  of  Copper   ..         ..         ..  276 

No.  440.  Copper  Tripod  ..         ..         ..         ..         ..  278 

No.  441.  Lance-head  of  Bronze    ..         ..         ..         ..         ..  279 

Nos.  442,  442^.  Small  One-edged  Bronze  Swords        ..        ..  279 

Nos.  443,  444.  Fragment  of  a  Two-edged  Bronze  Sword,  and 

another  weapon,  probably  a  Dagger           ..         ..        ..  280 


1 


Ixvi 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


PAGE 

No.  445  a,  b,  c.  Two-edged  Bronze  Swords,  and  an  Alabaster 

Sword  Knob    ..        ..         ..         ..         ..         ..         ..  281 

No.  446.  Two-edged  Bronze  Sword        ..         ..         ..         ..  282 

Nos.  447-449.  Two-edged  Bronze  Swords,  and  an  Alabaster 

Sword  Knob    ..        ..        ..        ..        ..        ..        ..  283 

No.  450.  Human  Jawbone           ..         ..         ..         ..  285 

Nos.  451,  452.  Golden  Tube,  and  Golden  Dragon  with  scales  of 

rock  crystal,  both  being  probably  pieces  of  a  sceptre-handle  287 


Chapter  IX. — Sepulchre  I.* 

Vignette. — No.  474.  Massive  Golden  Mask  of  the  body  at  the 

south  end  of  the  First  Sepulchre      ..         ..         ..         ..  289 

No.  453.  Richly  ornamented  Cup  of  Gold.    Sepulchre  V.        ..  292 
No.  454.  The  upper  part  of  a  body  found  in  the  First  Tomb. 

From  an  Oil  Painting  made  directly  after  its  discovery      ..  297 
No.  455.  Golden  Shoulder-belt,  with  a  fragment  of  the  two- 
edged  Sword    ..         ..         ..         ..         ..         ..         ..  299 

No.  456.  Small  Jar  of  Rock  Crystal        ..         ..         ..         ..  300 

No.  457.  Funnel-shaped  object,  of  Rock  Crystal          ..         ..  300 

No.  458.  Ornamented  Breast-cover  of  Massive  Gold     ..        ..  301 

No.  459.  Small  Bone,  with  the  fragment  of  a  splendidly  orna- 
mented Gold  Ribbon  ..        ..         ..        ..        ..        ..  302 

No.  460.  Two  Bronze  Swords  with  golden  handles ;  Golden 
Buttons  belonging  to  the  destroyed  Wooden  Sheaths ;  two 

gold  plates,  &c. ;  found  lying  beside  a  body  in  Sepulchre  I.  303 

No.  461.  Gold  Sword-tassel          ..         ..         ..         ..         ..  304 

No.  462.  Golden  Covers  of  Sword-handles,  with  intaglio  orna- 
mentation      ..        ..        ..        ..        ..        ..        ..  305 

Nos.  463-466.  Bronze  Battle-axe  and  Swords     ..         ..         ..  306 

No.  467.  Sword-handle,  plated  with  gold,  richly  ornamented  307 

Nos.  468,  469.  Curious  object  of  Gold,  and  Silver  Tongs        ..  308 

No.  470.  Gold  Plate,  with  Intaglio  of  a  Lion  chasing  a  Stag    ..  309 

No.  471.  Gold  Plate,  with  Intaglio  of  a  Lion  catching  a  Stag  ..  309 

No.  472.  Gold  Plate,  with  a  spiral  ornamentation  in  Intaglio    ..  311 

No.  473.  See  Vignette  to  Chapter  X.      ..        ..        ..        ..  333 

No.  474.  See  Vignette  to  Chapter  IX.     ..        ..        ..        ..  289 

No.  475.  Large  Gold  Cup ..        ..                  ..        ..        ..  313 


*  No.  453  only  belongs  to  Sepulchre  V. 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


Ixvii 


No.  476.  Large  Gold  Cup  ..        ..        ..  t> 

No.  477.  Golden  Goblet    ..         ..         ..         ..  t<  ^15 

No.  478.  Top  and  lower  part  of  a  large  Silver  Vase,  from  the 

First  Sepulchre  ..         ..        ..        ..         mt  -jg 

No.  479.  Large  Goblet  of  Alabaster       ..        ..        ..  3,- 

No.  480.  Double  Eagles  in  Gold  Plate    ..         ..         ..  .. 

No.  481.  Gold  Plate,  with  a  pattern  in  repousse  work     ..        ..  319 

No.  482.  Golden  Mouthpiece  of  a  Vase  ..        ..        ..        ..  320 

No.  483.  Golden  Vase-handle      ..         ..         ..        ..         ..  320 

No.  484.  Cylinder  of  Gold  Plate  ..         ..         ..         ..        ..  321 

Nos.  485-506.  Ornamented  Gold  Buttons         ..        ..  322-324 

Nos.  507-512.  „  ||    326 

Nos.  513-518.  Ornamented  Gold  Ribbons        ..         ..         ..  326 

No.  519.  Golden  Ornament  of  the  Greaves       ..         ..         ..  328 

Nos.  520-524.  Bone  Tubes  and  Buttons  ..         ..         ..         ..  328 

No.  525.  Piece  of  Ivory;  perhaps  the  Handle  of  a  Dagger     ..  329 

No.  526.  Object  of  Egyptian  Porcelain  ..         ..         ..         ..  330 

No.  527.  Wheel-made  Vase  of  Terra-cotta        ..        ..        ..  331 

Chapter  X. — The  Royal  Tombs. 

Vignette. — No.  473.  Massive  Golden  Mask  of  the  body  at  the 

north  end  of  the  First  Sepulchre      ..         ..         ..         ..  333 

Chapter  XI. — Tomb  South  of  the  Agora.* 

Vignette. — No.  528.  Golden  Goblet,  with  Dog's  Head  Handles  350 
No.  529.  Gold  Rings,  Gold  Wire  (round  and  quadrangular)  in 

spirals,  and  one  Silver  Ring  ..         ..         ..        ..         ..  353 

No.  530.  Gold  Signet-ring ..         ..         ..         ..         ..         ..  354 

No.  531.  Second  Gold  Signet-ring  ..        ..        ..        ..  360 

No.  532.  Golden  Lion      ..        ..        ..        ..        ..        ..  .561 

Nos.  533-538.  Gold  Beads  of  a  Necklace       ..        ..        ..  361 

Nos.  539-541.  Three  Lentoid  Gems  of  Serpentine  and  Agate 
with  intaglio-work,  found  on  the  site  of  Phuenice  and 

of  the  Heraeum  ..         ..         ..         ..         ••        ••  362 


*  Only  Nos.  539-541  are  not  from  this  Tomb. 


lxviii 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


APPENDIX. 
Analysis  of  Metals.    From  Sepulchre  IV. 


No.  542.  Piece  of  Argentiferous  Gold  Foil         ..         ..  ..  368 

No.  543.  Piece  of  Sheet  Gold      ..         ..        ..        ..  ..  369 

Nos.  544,  545.  Fragments  of  a  Silver  Vase        ..         ..  ..  370 

No.  546.  Piece  of  a  Bronze  Sword         ..        ..        ..  ..  372 

Nos.  547-549.   Plan,  side  elevation,  and  end  elevation,  of  a 

Bronze  Handle  of  a  Vase.     ..         ..         ..         ..  ..  375 


COLOURED  PLATES  OF  TERRA-COTTA  FIGURES. 
(To follow  Index.') 
Plate  A.  Figs,  a,  b.  Terra-cotta  Cows  and  Idols  from  Tiryns. 

„         „     c,  d.  Terra-cotta  Idols  from  Tiryns. 
Plate  B.  Figs,  e,  f,  g.  Terra-cotta  Idols  from  Mycenae. 

„         ,,     h.  A  piece  of  Terra-cotta,  with  characters  resembling 
letters. 

Plate  C.  Fig.  i.  The  Head  of  an  Idol  from  Mycenae. 

„       „     k.  A  Cow  from  Mycenae. 

„       „     1,  rn.  Idols  from  Mycenae.    Actual  size. 
Plate  D.  Figs,  n,  o,  p.  Fragments  of  Terra-cotta  Cow-headed  Idols 
from  Mycenae. 


PLANS. 
(At  End  of  Volume.) 
Plan  A.  The  Acropolis  of  Tiryns. 

Plan  B.  The  Circular  Agora,  with  the  Five  Royal  Sepulchres,  in  the 

Acropolis  of  Mycenae. 
Plan  B  B.  Vertical  Sections  of  the  Hill  of  the  Acropolis  of  Mycenae 

and  the  Depths  of  the  Five  Tombs. 
Plan  C.  Plan  of  the  Acropolis  of  Mycenae,  with   Dr.  Schliemann's 

excavations. 
Plan  D.  Plan  of  the  whole  City  of  Mycenae. 

Plan  E.  Facade,  Plan,  and  Section  of  the  Treasury  near  the  Lions'  Gate. 
Plan  F.  Plan  and  Section  of  the  Fourth  Sepulchre,  with  the  Funeral 
Altar  above  it. 

Plan  G.  Plan  and  Section  of  the  Tomb  South  of  the  Agora,  in  the 
Acropolis  of  Mycenae. 


CHAPTER  I. 

Excavations  at  Tiryns. 

Situation  of  the  City— Description  by  Pausanias —Cyclopean  Walls: 
meaning  of  the  epithet — The  Quarry — The  rock  o'f  Tiryns  and  its 
bordering  Wall  Galleries,  Gate,  and  Tower-  -Walls  and  Terraces  of 
the  Acropolis  Mythical  traditions  and  History  of  Tiryns — Its 
destruction  by  the  Argives — Its  connection  with  the'  myth  of 
Hercules  Morasses  in  the  Plain  of  Argos — The  Walls  of  Tiryns 
the  most  ancient  monument  in  Greece — Pottery  a  test  of  antiquity 
— Beginning  of  the  Excavations — Cyclopean  house-walls  and  con- 
duits— Objects  discovered — Terra-cotta  cows,  and  female  idols 
with  cow's-horns  — Both  represent  the  goddess  Hera  Boopis  — 
A  bird-headed  idol  A  bronze  figure,  the  only  piece  of  metal  at 
Tiryns,  except  lead — No  stone  implements  found — Pottery- 
Hellenic  remains  outside  the  citadel,  which  was  the  primitive 
city — -Proofs  of  different  periods  of  habitation — The  later  city  of 
Tiryns— The  archaic  pottery  of  Tiryns  like  that  of  Mvcena; — Its 
forms  and  decoration  denote  higher  civilisation  than  the  rude  walls 


i 


2 


EXCAVATIONS  AT  TIRYNS. 


[Chap.  I. 


would  lead  us  to  expect — -Older  pottery  on  the  virgin  soil,  but  no 
cows  or  idols — Probable  date  of  the  second  nation  at  Tiryns,  about 
iooo  to  800  B.C.  ;  of  the  Cyclopean  walls,  about  1800  to  1600  B.C. — 
No  resemblance  feo  any  of  the  pottery  in  the  strata  of  Hissarhk, 
except  the  goblets — A  human  skeleton  found — Whorls — Estimate  of 
soil  to  be  moved  at  Tiryns — Greater  importance  of  Mycenae. 

Tiryns,  August  6,  1876. 

In  the  south-east  corner  of  the  Plain  of  Argos,  on  the 
lowest  and  flattest  of  a  group  of  rocky  hills,  which  rise 
like  islands  out  of  the  marshy  lowlands,  only  eight  stadia  or 
one  mile  from  the  Gulf  of  Argos,  was  situated  the  ancient 
citadel  of  Tiryns,  now  called  Paltfocastron*  It  was  cele- 
brated as  the  birthplace  of  Hercules  and  was  famous  for  its 
gigantic  Cyclopean  walls,  of  which  Pausanias  says,  "  The 
circuit  wall,  which  is  the  only  remaining  ruin  (of  Tiryns) 
was  built  by  the  Cyclopes.  It  is  composed  of  unwrought 
stones,  each  of  which  is  so  large  that  a  team  of  mules 


*  See  Plan  A.  and  Plate  E  The  etymology  of  the  name  Tiryns 
(probably  a  Pelasgic  word)  is  difficult  to  explain.  It  is  very  probable 
that  the  city  was  originally  called  Licymnia,  for  Strabo  (VIII.  p.  373) 
says  that  a  citadel  with  that  name  is  twelve  stadia  from  Nauplia,  and 
this  distance  perfectly  agrees  with  that  of  Tiryns  from  the  latter  city. 
He  does  not  distinctly  say  that  he  alludes  to  Tiryns  ;  but  this  is  very 
probable,  because  Pindar  says  (Olymp.  7,  v.  47)  : 

KaL  yap  ' A\K/j.rivas  Kaalyvr)Tov  v60ov  aKairrif  6iv<av, 

GK\7]pas  e\aias  eKTav'  ii>  Tf- 

pvvQt  hiKvjxuiov,  i\&il>^,  e/c  flaKd/xov  MiSe'as, 

Tas  S€  irore  oiKiarrip  ^oAwSei'y. 

'  Because  he  (Tlepolemus)  killed  in  wrath  with  a  stick  of  the  hard  olive- 
tree  Alcmena's  bastard  brother  Licymnms,  who  descended  from  Midea's 
nuptial  chamber  and  was  the  builder  of  the  city.'  Apollodorus  (II.  8,  2) 
confirms  this,  but  says  that  he  killed  him  accidentally  :  TA^-n-oAe/xos  ow, 
KT€iWs  ot'X  hcorv  KiKVft.vwv  Trj  /3uKTrjpta  yap  avrov  OepaTrevovra  TrKrjaarovTOs 
{nre8pap.e,  '  Tlepolemus  involuntarily  killed  Licymnios,  who  approached 
him  when  he  was  chastising  his  servant  with  a  stick.' 

Eustathius  {ad  loc.)  says  that  the  first  name  of  Tiryns  was  Haliis  or 
Haleis,  fishermen  having  been  the  first  settlers  on  the  rock  ;  this  is  also 
confirmed  by  Stephanus  Byzantinus  (s.v.  Tcpvvs).  Pausanias  (II.  25,  8) 
says  that  the  city  received  its  name  from  the  hero  Tiryns,  a  son  of 
Argos. 


1876.]  THE  CYCLOPEAN  WALLS.  3 

cannot  even  shake  the  smallest  one  :  small  stones  have  been 
interposed  in  order  to  consolidate  the  large  blocks."* 

The  usual  size  of  the  stones  is  7  feet  long  and  3  feet 
thick,  but  I  measured  several  which  were  10  feet  long  and 
4  feet  thick.  Judging  by  the  masses  of  fallen  stones,  I  think 
it  probable  that  the  walls,  when  entire,  were  not  less  than 
60  feet  high.  Had  the  circuit  wall  consisted  of  wrought 
stones  it  would  doubtless  have  disappeared  ages  ago,  be- 
cause its  stones  would  have  been  used  for  the  buildings  in 
the  neighbouring  cities  of  Nauplia  and  Argos.  But  the 
wall  was  preserved  on  account  of  the  enormous  size  of  the 
blocks,  for  the  later  builders  found  it  much  more  easy  and 
convenient  to  cut  the  material  they  needed  at  the  foot  of 
the  rocks  than  to  destroy  the  wall  and  break  up  the  blocks. 

I  may  here  mention  that  the  name  "  Cyclopean  walls " 
is  founded  on  an  error,  being  derived  from  the  mythic 
legend  that  the  Cyclopes  were  distinguished  architects. 
According  to  Strabo  (VIII.  6),  the  Cyclopes,  seven  in 
number,  came  from  Lvcia  and  erected  in  the  Argolid 
walls  and  other  buildings,  which  were  known  under 
the  denomination  "  Cyclopean  walls."  According  to 
Apollodorus  (II.  a,  1)  and  Pausanias  (II.  16,  4)  they  built 
the  walls  of  Tiryns  ami  Mycenae.  Probably  in  consequence 
of  this  the  whole  of  Argolis  is  called  "Cyclopean  land."f 
There  is  of  course  no  historical  foundation  for  calling  walls 
of  huge  blocks  u  Cyclopean,"  after  the  mythical  giant  race 
of  the  Cyclopes.  But  as  the  word  has  come  into  general 
use,  I  cannot  avoid  employing  it. 

It  must  be  distinctly  understood  that  not  every  wall 
built  of  stones,  without  any  binding  material,  may  be  called 


•  P;iUS.  II.  25,  8.  To  8r/  Tti\o<;,  o  8r/  ixovov  tw  iptlWUOV  KuTTtTUt, 
(cukAoWoji/  fiiv  Amv  Ipyov,  rreireitjrai  8e  <l/>yJii'  Xfflwv,  p-tytdci  (Xwv  tK<uTTo<> 
M0O«  u>S  air  avrwv  /xr;8'  av  apxnv  Kivr)6^vai  w  ixixpinaTov  xmt>  £ujov<;  r)fii- 
<W  •  MOia  ft  ivy'jpfuxTTai  TroAai  u>?  p.d\urra  avrdv  Ikwjtov  ipfMvlav  ro'ts 
p.tyd\(>L<;  At#ois  eirat. 

t  yd  KVK\wma  (Euripides,  Orestes,  965). 


4 


EXCAVATIONS  AT  TIRYNS. 


[Chap.  I. 


"  Cyclopean  ;"  and  that  under  that  denomination  are  only 
comprised,  firstly,  the  walls  of  large  unwrought  blocks,  the 
interstices  of  which  are  filled  in  with  smaller  stones ; 
secondly,  the  walls  composed  of  large  polygonal  stones 
well  fitted  together;  and,  thirdly,  the  very  ancient  walls 
(such  as  we  see  in  the  Lions'  Gate  at  Mycenae)  where  im- 
mense quadrangular  blocks,  rudely  wrought,  are  roughly 
put  together  in  horizontal  layers,  but  the  joints  not  being 
quite  straight,  there  remain  small  interstices  between  the 
stones.  House  or  fortress  walls  of  well-cut  quadrangular 
slabs,  which  are  closely  joined  without  mortar,  can  never 
be  called  "  Cyclopean  ;"  and  thus,  even  the  large  subter- 
ranean Treasuries  at  Mycenae  and  Orchomenus  can  in  no 
way  claim  this  denomination,  though  they  may  belong  to 
the  remotest  antiquity.* 

The  quarry  from  which  these  walls  were  built  can 
easily  be  distinguished  at  the  foot  of  a  rock  one  mile 
distant,  which  is  crowned  by  a  chapel  of  the  prophet  Elias. 
But  this  quarry  does  Jiot  form  a  pit,  such  as  we  see  at 
Syracuse,  Baalbec,  or  Corinth.  At  Tiryns,  as  at  Mycenae, 
the  Cyclopean  builders  have  contented  themselves  with 
cutting  away  the  blocks  from  the  rocky  surface. 

The  flat  rock  of  Tiryns,  which  is  900  feet  long,  from 
200  to  250  feet  broad,  and  from  30  to  50  feet  high, 
extends  in  a  straight  line  from  north  to  south,  and  its 
margin  is  lined  by  the  aforesaid  Cyclopean  circuit  wall, 
which  is  from  25  to  50  feet  thick,  and  in  a  pretty  good 
state  of  preservation  ;  but  it  is  not  always  massive,  being 


*  Cf.  Ch.  II.  p.  28.  It  should  also  be  observed  that  these  forms  of 
construction  do  not  invariably  denote  successive  steps  of  antiquity  and 
the  art  of  building.  Unhewn  boulders,  rough  quarried  stones,  and  those 
which  had  a  polygonal  cleavage  due  to  their  nature,  were  often  used  for 
convenience  by  builders  who  were  quite  able  to  work  quadrangular  blocks, 
as  is  proved  by  walls  in  which  the  former  kinds  are  placed  above  the  last. 
See  Mr.  E.  H.  Bunbury's  "  Cyclopean  Remains  in  Central  Italy,"  in  the 
'Classical  Museum,'  1845,  vo'-  n-  PP-  J47>  se(!1->  an<^  tne  article  Murus 
in  Dr.  Smith's  '  Dictionary  of  Greek  and  Roman  Antiquities.' 


1876.J  THE  CITADEL  OF  TIRYNS.  5 

traversed  by  interior  passages  or  galleries  with  ogival 
vaults,  of  which  four  can  easily  be  discerned.  One  of 
these  galleries,  which  is  90  feet  long  and  7  feet  10  inches 
broad  and  high  and  free  from  debris,  has  in  its  external 
wall  six  gate-like  recesses  or  window  openings,  which 
reach  down  to  the  bottom.  Their  pointed  arches  are 
formed  like  the  angle  in  the  passage,  merely  by  over- 
lapping the  ends  of  the  courses  of  the  masonry.* 

These  niches  were  most  probably  intended  for  archers, 
whilst  the  galleries  themselves  must  have  served  for 
covered  communications  leading  to  armouries,  guard- 
chambers,  or  towers.  Of  the  other  three  galleries,  two 
are  in  the  south-eastern  corner  and  run  parallel  to  each 
other  ;  the  third,  which  traverses  the  western  wall,  seems 
to  have  served  as  a  sally-port,  and  was  probably  concealed 
in  some  way  or  other.f 

On  the  eastern  side  is  the  only  gate,  which  is 
15  feet  broad.  It  is  approached  by  a  ramp  20  feet  wide, 
which  is  supported  by  a  wall  of  Cyclopean  masonry.J 
The  right  flank  of  the  gate  is  defended  by  a  tower  43 
feet  high  and  33  feet  broad,  which  may  have  procured 
for  the  Tirynthians  the  credit  of  having  been  the  first 
to  build  towers. §  In  this  place  the  walls  are  better 
preserved  than  anywhere  else,  and  they  rise  considerably 

*  See  the  margin  of  Plan  A. 

f  Dodwell  ('  A  Classical  and  Topographical  Tour  through  Greece') 
and  Prof.  Ernst  Curtius  (Pelqponnes)  consider  this  gallery  to  be  a 
second  gate,  which  I  think  impossible,  as  it  leads  straight  out  into  the 
plain.  • 

%  Colonel  Leake  states  ('  Travels  in  the  Morea,'  Vol.  II.  p.  351)  that 
the  principal  entrance  of  Tiryns  is  on  the  south  side,  adjacent  to  the  south- 
east angle.  He  is  right  if  he  speaks  of  the  present  day,  for  there  has 
indeed  been  made  at  that  point  in  modern  times  a  zigzag  roadway, 
leading  up  the  steep  slope  ;  but  there  was  most  decidedly  no  gate  or 
entrance  whatever  here  in  ancient  times. 

§  Aristotle  and  Theophrastus,  ap.  Plin.  H.  N.  VII.  56.  Pliny  says 
that  the  former  of  these  authors  attributes  the  building  of  towers  to  the 
Cyclopes,  the  latter  to  the  Tirynthians. 


6 


EXCAVATIONS  AT  TIRYNS. 


[Chap.  I. 


above  the  flat  summit  of  the  mount  within  the  Acropolis 
or  citadel. 

This  citadel  consists  of  an  upper  enclosure  on  the 
south,  and  a  lower  one  on  the  north  side ;  both  are  of 
about  equal  size,  and  are  divided  by  an  abrupt  slope,  14 
feet  high,  which  was  fortified  by  a  Cyclopean  wall  of  minor 
proportions.  In  this  wall  I  perceive  some  stones  shaped 
by  art,  and  some  even  rectangular,  which  leads  me  to 
think  that  it  belongs  to  a  later  time  than  the  Cyclopean 
circuit  walls.  In  the  upper  enclosure  are  a  number  of 
terraces  supported  by  Cyclopean  walls. 

Through  all  antiquity  the  Greeks  themselves  looked 
upon  the  walls  of  Tiryns  as  a  work  of  the  demons. 
Pausanias  *  regards  them  as  a  structure  more  stupendous 
than  the  Pyramids  of  Egypt ;  and  Homer  manifests 
his  admiration  of  them  by  the  epithet  "  ret^tdecrcra," 
which  he  applies  to  Tiryns. f 

According  to  ancient  tradition,  Tiryns  was  founded 
(about  1400  b  c.)  by  Proetus,  who  was  its  first  king,  and 
whose  son  Megapenthes  ceded  the  town  to  Perseus,  the 
builder  of  Mycenae.  Perseus  gave  it  to  Electryon,  whose 
daughter  Alcmena,  the  mother  of  Hercules,  married 
Amphitryon,  who  was  expelled  by  Sthenelus,  the  king  of 
Mycenae  and  Argos.  Hercules  conquered  Tiryns  and  in- 
habited it  for  a  long  time,  in  consequence  of  which  he  is 
often  called  the  Tirynthian.J  On  the  return  of  the 
Heraclidae  (80  years  after  the  Trojan  war)  Mycenae  itself, 
as  well  as  Tiryns,  Hysiae,  Mideia,  and  other  cities,  were 
forced  to  increase  the  power  of  Argos,  and  were  reduced 
to  the  condition  of  dependent  towns.  Tiryns  remained 
nevertheless  in  the  hands  of  its  Achaean  population,  and, 
together  with  Mycenae,  took  part  in  the  battle  of  Plataeae 


*  Paus.  IX.  36. 

+  Iliad,  II.  559  • — 'Apyos  T'  e1xov  T'lpwOi.  re  retx^^ccay- 

$  Pind.  01.  XI.  40;  Ovid,  Met.  VII.  410  ;  Virgil,  jEn.  VII.  662. 


1876.]  HISTORY  OF  TIRYNS.  j 

with  400  men.*  In  consequence  of  this  event  the  name 
of  Tiryns  was  engraved,  among  those  of  the  other  Greek 
cities  which  had  fought  there,  on  the  bronze  column  with 
the  golden  tripod-stand,  which  the  Spartans  dedicated  as  the 
tithe  of  the  booty  to  the  Pythian  Apollo  at  Delphi.  The 
glory  which  Tiryns  thus  acquired  excited  the  envy  of  the 
Argives,  who  had  taken  no  part  in  the  Persian  war,  and 
who  also  began  to  consider  that  city  as  a  very  dangerous 
neighbour ;  particularly  when  it  had  fallen  into  the  hands 
of  their  insurgent  slaves  (Vvfivrjo-iOL),  who  maintained  them- 
selves for  a  long  time  behind  its  Cyclopean  walls  and 
dominated  the  country  .f  The  insurgents  were  finally  sub- 
dued, but  soon  afterwards  (Ol.  78,  1  ;  468  b.c.)  the  Argives 
destroyed  the  city,  demolished  part  of  its  Cyclopean  walls, 
and  forced  the  Tirynthians  to  emigrate  to  Argos.J  But 
according  to  Strabo  ^  they  fled  to  Epidaurus.  Pausa- 
nias  ||  mentions  that  between  Tiryns  and  the  gulf  are  the 
u  ddkafiot,"  of  the  insane  daughters  of  Proetus,  of  which 
no  vestige  is  to  be  seen  now;  they  cannot  have  been 
underground  buildings  on  account  of  the  morass.  Theo- 
phrastus^l  speaks  .of  the  laughing  propensities  of  the  Tiryn- 
thians, which  rendered  them  incapable  of  serious  work.** 

The  myth  of  the  birth  of  Hercules  at  Tiryns  and  the 
twelve  labours  he  performed  for  Eurystheus,  the  king  of 


•  Herodot.  IX.  28.  t  Herodot.  VI.  83. 

I  Paus.  II.  17,  5  ;  VIII.  27,  1.         §  VIII.  p.  373. 

||  11.  15,9.  f  Apud  Athenaeum,  VI.  261. 

*'*  Theophrastus  adds  that,  desirous  to  get  rid  of  their  propensity 
to  laugh,  the  Tirynthians  consulted  the  oracle  at  Delphi,  and  got  the 
god's  answer  that,  if  they  could  sacrifice  an  ox  to  Poseidon  and  throw 
it  into  die  sea,  without  laughing,  the  evil  would  at  once  cease.  The 
Tirynthians,  who  feared  to  fail  in  the  execution  of  the  god's  command, 
forbad  the  children  to  be  present  at  the  sacrifice.  But  one  of  them 
having  heard  this,  and  having  mixed  in  the  crowd,  they  cried  out  at 
him  to  drive  him  away,  on  which  he  exclaimed,  "  How,  are  you  afraid 
that  I  shall  upset  your  sacrifice  ?"  This  excited  universal  laughter,  and 
they  became  convinced  that  the  god  intended  to  show  them  by  ex- 
perience that  an  inveterate  evil  custom  cannot  be  remedied. 


8 


EXCAVATIONS  AT  TIRYNS. 


[Chap.  I. 


the  neighbouring  Mycenae,  may,  I  think,  be  easily  explained 
by  his  double  nature  as  hero  and  as  sun-god.*  As  the 
most  powerful  of  all  heroes,  it  is  but  natural  that  he  should 
be  fabled  to  have  been  born  within  the  most  powerful 
walls  in  the  world,  which  were  considered  as  the  work  of 
supernatural  giants.  As  sun-god  he  must  have  had  nume- 
rous sanctuaries  in  the  plain  of  Argos  and  a  celebrated 
cultus  at  Tiryns,  because  the  marshy  lowlands  by  which  it 
is  surrounded,  and  which  even  at  present  are  nearly  unpro- 
ductive from  want  of  drainage,  were  in  remote  antiquity 
nothing  but  deep  swamps  and  morasses,  which  extending 
far  up  the  plain  engendered  pestilential  fevers,  and  could 
only  be  made  to  disappear  gradually  by  incessant  human 
labour  and  by  the  beneficent  influence  of  the  sun. 

For  the  existence  of  the  immense  morasses  in  the  plain 
of  Argos  we  have  no  less  an  authority  than  Aristotle,  who 
says,f  "  At  the  time  of  the  Trojan  war,  the  land  of  Argos 
being  swampy,  it  could  only  feed  a  scanty  population, 
whilst  the  land  of  Mycenae  was  good  and  was  therefore 
highly  prized.  But  now  the  contrary  is  the  case,  for  the 
latter  has  become  too  dry  and  lies  untitled,  whilst  the  land 
of  Argos,  which  was  a  morass  and  therefore  lay  un- 
tilled,  has  now  become  good  arable  land."  Thus  it  will 
appear  but  natural  that  Hercules,  as  sun-god,  should  be 
fabled  to  have  performed  for  Eurystheus,  the  king  of 
Mycenae,  who  possessed  the  whole  plain  of  Argos,  the 
twelve  labours  which  have  been  long  known  to  mean 
nothing  else  than  the  twelve  signs  of  the  zodiac,  through 
which  the  sun  appears  to  pass  in  the  annual  revolution  of 
our  globe. 

The  topography  of  the  plain  south  of  Tiryns  appears 
not  to  have  changed  since  the  time  of  Aristotle,  for  the 
northern  shore  of  the  gulf  consists  of  deep  swamps, 
which  even  now  extend  for  nearly  a  mile  inland. 


t  Aristot.  Mcteorol.  I.  14. 


1876.J  BEGINNING  OF  WORK  AT  TIRYNS.  9 

I  perfectly  agree  with  the  common  opinion  that  the 
Cyclopean  walls  of  Tiryns  are  the  most  ancient  monument 
in  Greece ;  but,  having  the  conviction  that  no  city  or 
fortress  wall  can  be  more  ancient  than  the  most  ancient 
pottery  of  the  site  it  surrounds,  I  was  very  anxious  to  in- 
vestigate the  chronology  of  the  Tirynthian  walls  by  syste- 
matic excavations.  I  therefore  proceeded  to  Tiryns  on  the 
31st  ultimo,  in  company  with  Mrs.  Schliemann  and  my 
esteemed  friends,  Castorches,  Phendikles  and  Pappadakes, 
Professors  of  Archaeology  in  the  University  of  Athens. 

There  I  engaged  fifty-one  workmen,  and  dug  a  long 
broad  and  deep  trench  in  the  highest  part  of  the  citadel, 
and  sank  besides  this  thirteen  shafts  6  feet  in  diameter.* 
I  further  sank  three  shafts  in  the  lower  part  of  the  fortress, 
and  four  more  at  a  distance  of  100  feet  outside  the  walls. 
In  the  higher  citadel  I  struck  the  natural  rock  at  a  depth 
of  from  1  1  i  to  [64  feet:  in  the  lower  citadel,  at  from  5  to 
8  feet :  and  outside  the  citadel  I  reached  the  virgin  soil 
at  from  3  to  4  teet. 

In  seven  or  eight  of  the  shafts  sunk  in  the  upper  citadel 
I  brought  to  light  Cyclopean  house-walls  built  on  the  natural 
rock,  and  in  three  shafts  I  found  Cyclopean  water-conduits 
of  a  primitive  sort,  being  composed  of  unwrought  stones, 
laid  without  any  binding  material.  Though  these  water- 
conduits  rest  on  the  rock,  yet  1  cannot  conceive  how  water 
can  ever  have  run  along  them  without  getting  lost  through 
the  interstices  between  the  stones. 

Neither  in  the  long  trench  nor  in  the  deep  twelve  or 
thirteen  shafts  did  I  find  any  stones  at  all.  I  conclude  from 
this  that  the  majority  of  the  houses  consisted  of  unburnt 
bricks,  which  still  form  the  building  material  of  most  of 
the  villages  in  the  Argolid.  The  houses  can  hardly  have 
been  of  wood,  for,  if  so.  I  should  have  found  large  quan- 

*  The  exact  depths  are  indicated  by  the  proportional  numbers 
appended  to  the  sectional  plans  of  the  excavations  in  the  margin  ot 
Plan  A. 


IO 


EXCAVATIONS  AT  TIRYNS. 


[Chap.  I. 


tities  of  ashes.  All  my  excavations  in  Tiryns  remain  of 
course  open,  and  visitors  are  invited  to  inspect  them. 

Among  the  objects  discovered  I  must  first  mention  the 
^mall  terra-cotta  cows,  of  which  I  collected  eleven,*  for  they 


seem  to  solve  a  great  problem,  and  are,  at  all  events,  of 
capital  importance  to  science.  Nearly  all  of  them  are 
covered  with  painted  ornaments  of  red  colour  ;  one  only 
has  a  black  ornamentation. 

At  the  same  time  I  found  nine  female  idols,  seven  of 
which  are  painted  with  red  and  two  with  black  or  dark 
yellow  ornaments.f  They  have  a  very  compressed  face, 
no  mouth,  and  a  "  polos"  on  the  head;  of  the  idol  No.  8 
the  head  is  missing,  and  the  idol,  No.  10,  has  a  broader 
face  and  an  uncovered  head.  The  breasts  of  all  these 
idols  are  in  high  relief,  and  below  them  on  each  side 
protrudes  a  long  horn,  in  such  a  way  that  both  horns 
together  must  either  be  intended  to  represent  the  moons 
crescent  or  the  two  horns  of  the  cow,  or  both  the  one 
and  the  other  at  the  same  time.    I  found  cows  and  idols 


*  See  Nos.  2-7,  and  the  coloured  Plate  A,  figs,  a,  b. 

t  See  Nos.  8-1 1  on  p.  12,  and  the  coloured  Plate  A,  fig.  d. 


Nos.  3-7.  Terra-Cotta  Cows,  from  Tiryns.    Actual  size. 


EXCAVATIONS  AT  TIRYNS. 


[Chap.  t. 


perfectly  similar,  three  vears  ago,  in  the  thirty-four  shafts 
I  sank  in  the  Acropolis  of  Mycenae,  which  city  was  close 
to  the  great  Heraeum  and  was  celebrated  for  its  cultus  of 
Hera,  whose  cow-character  and  identity  with  the  Pelasgic 
moon  and  cow-goddess  Io,  with  the  Boeotian  goddess 
Demeter  Mycalessia,  and  with  the  Egyptian  moon-goddess 
Isis,*  I  have  already  sufficiently  proved.^    My  opinion  is 

*  To  these  may  be  added  the  Syrian  and  Phoenician  Ashtoreth. 

"  Astarte,  queen  of  heaven,  with  c rese en t  horns, 
To  whose  bright  image  nightly,  by  the  moon, 
Phoenician  virgins  paid  their  vows  and  songs.'' — 

Milton,  Par.  Lost,  Bk.  I.  vv.  439-441. 

t  See  note  A. — "  Hera  Boons,"  at  the  end  of  this  chapter. 


1876.J  IDOLS  OF  HERA. 

also  sliared  by  the  high  authority  of  the  Right  Honour- 
able W.  E.  Gladstone,  who  says  in  his  celebrated  work, 
'Homeric  Synchronism,'  p.  249:  "The  goddess  Isis,  mated 
with  Osiris,  is  represented  with  the  cow's  head  on  some  of 
the  Egyptian  monuments*  She  is  identified  by  Herodotus 
with  Demeter :  but  Dcmeter  and  Here  are  very  near,  and 
Here'  seems  in  Homer  to  be  the  Hellenic  form  which  had 
in  a  great  degree  extruded  Demeter  from  many  of  her 
traditions,  and  relegated  her  into  the  insignificance  which 
belongs  to  her  in  the  poems.  The  epithet  Boopis  seems 
therefore  possibly  to  indicate  a  mode  of  representing  Here 
which  had  been  derived  from  Egypt,  and  which  Hellenism 
refined. 

"  It  must,  however,  be  borne  in  mind  that  the  Egyptian 
representation  was  not  with  the  eyes,  but  with  the  full 
countenance  and  head,  of  the  ox  or  cow ;  and  further,  that 
the  Homeric  epithet  is  not  confined  to  Here,  but  is  applied 
to  Klumene\  one  of  the  attendants  of  Helen,f  and  to  Philo- 
medousa,  wife  of  Areithoos.|  It  is  likewise  given  to  Ilalie, 
one  of  the  Nereid  Nymphs. §  The  inference,  probable 
though  not  demonstrative,  would  seem  to  be  that  in  Homer's 
time  the  epithet  had  come  to  bear  its  later  and  generalised 
sense,  and  that  the  recollection  of  the  cow  had  worn  away." 

I  therefore  do  not  hesitate  to  declare  that  both  the 
cows  and  the  horned  female  figures  found  at  Mycenae 
and  Tiryns  must  needs  be  idols  of  Hera,  who  was  the 
tutelar  deity  of  both  cities. 

All  the  above  idols,  in  the  form  of  a  cow  and  of  a 
horned  female,  were  found  at  a  depth  of  from  3  to  ii£ 
feet  below  the  surface,  and  none  at  a  greater  depth. 

Several  terra-cotta  idols  of  a  different  form  were  found ; 
one  of  them  at  a  depth  of  8  feet.j|    This  also  seems  to  be  a 

*  See  Bun  sen's  '  Egypt,'  Vol.  I.  p.  420  (Transl.). 

t  //.  III.  144.  %  II.  VII.  10.  §  //.  XVIII.  4°- 

||  See  the  coloured  Plate  A,  fig.  c. 


1 4  EXCAVATIONS  AT  TIRYNS.  [Chap.  I. 

female  idol ;  its  two  hands  are  joined  on  the  breast,  as  if 
in  the  attitude  of  prayer ;  the  head,  which  is  uncovered, 
exactly  resembles  a  bird's  head,  and  at  the  first  glance 
one  is  involuntarily  struck  by  the  resemblance  of  this  idol 
to  those  on  one  of  the  many  painted  figures  of  the  Attic 
vases  with  geometrical  patterns  which  are  preserved  in  the 
small  collection  of  antiquities  in  the  Ministry  of  Public 
Instruction  at  Athens,*  and  which  have  been 
until  now  considered  to  be  the  most  ancient 
pottery  in  Greece.  But  I  hope  to  prove  in 
the  subsequent  pages  that  this  is  a  great 
mistake,  and  that  they  must  belong  to  a 
later  period. 

Of  the  idol  No.  1 1  there  remain  only 
the  neck  and  the  head,  which  very  much 
resembles  an  owl's  head. 

Except  lead,  the  only  piece  of  metal 
found  was  a  beautiful  archaic  male  figure  of 
bronze,  wearing  a  Phrygian  cap,  and  seem- 
ingly in  the  attitude  of  throwing  a  lance 
(see  No.  12).  But  copper  or  bronze  at 
least,  if  not  iron,  must  have  been  extensively 
used  at  Tiryns,  for  I  did  not  find  there  a 
single  implement  of  stone. 

The  surface  of  the  citadel  is  scantily 
strewn  with  potsherds  of  the  Middle  Ages, 
and  probably  of  the  time  of  the  Frank 
from  Tiryns.  (3  m.)  dominion,  for  that  period  seems  to  be  indi- 

Actual  size.  '  1 

cated  by  the  chalk  floors  of  a  villa  and  its 
dependencies.  These  potsherds,  as  well  as  entire  vases  of  the 
same  fabric,  are  sometimes  found  as  far  down  as  3  feet,  but 
immediately  below  them  follow  archaic  potsherds,  which  are 
usuallv  met  with  at  as  little  as  a  few  inches  under  the  surface  : 


*  Published  by  Dr.  G.  Hirschfeld  ('  Vasi  Arcaici  Ateniesi,  estratto 
dagli  Annali  dell'  Institute)  di  Corr.  Archeol.,'  1872.  Roma). 


1876.]         POTTERY  AND  COINS  FOUND  AT  TIRYNS.  15 

and  thus  it  is  evident  that  the  site  of  the  citadel  of  Tiryns 
was  never  inhabited  from  the  time  of  the  capture  of  the 
city  by  the  Argives  (468  b.c.)  to  about  1200  a.d. 

But  in  the  four  shafts  which  I  sank  outside  the  citadel  I 
found  nothing  but  remains  of  Hellenic  household  vessels, 
which,  judging  by  the  potsherds,  I  am  inclined  to  attribute 
to  the  2nd,  3rd,  and  4th  centuries  b.c.  I  am  confirmed 
in  this  conjecture  by  quite  a  treasure  of  small  Tirynthian 
copper  coins,  discovered  some  years  ago  at  the  foot  of  the 
citadel,  and  evidently  of  the  Macedonian  time.  These 
medals,  which  are  of  splendid  workmanship,  show  on  one 
side  the  head  of  Apollo  with  a  diadem,  on  the  other  a  palm- 
tree  witli  the  legend  TIPTN2.  Thus  there  can  be  no 
doubt  that  the  most  ancient  city  of  Tiryns  was  confined  to 
the  small  space  within  the  walls  of  the  citadel,  and  that  a 
new  city,  with  the  same  name,  was  built  outside  of  it  some 
time  after  the  capture  by  the  Argives,  and  probably  in  the 
beginning  of  the  4th  century  b.c  This  city  seems  to  have 
extended  especially  to  the  east  and  still  more  to  the  north 
side  of  the  citadel,  where  a  number  of  its  house-walls  may 
be  seen  on  the  road  to  Mycenae.  From  the  absence  of 
pottery  of  a  later  period  I  conclude  that  the  new  town 
was  already  abandoned  before  the  Roman  rule  in  Greece. 
It  seems  to  have  been  quite  insignificant,  for  it  is  not 
mentioned  by  any  ancient  author. 

The  Tirynthian  archaic  pottery  is  of  precisely  the  same 
fabric,  and  has  the  same  painted  ornamentation,  as  the 
pottery  of  Mvcenae.  There  are  the  same  tripods,  with  from 
one  to  five  perforations  in  each  foot ;  the  same  large  vases, 
with  perforated  handles  and  holes  in  the  rim  of  the  bottom 
for  suspension  by  a  string;  the  same  fantastically-shaped 
small  vases,  jugs,  pots,  dishes,  and  cups — all  made  on  the 
potter's  wheel,  and  usually  presenting,  on  a  light  red  dead 
ground,  the  most  varied  painted  ornamentation  of  a  lively 
red  colour,  which  seems  to  be  quite  indestructible ;  for  the 
thousands  of  potsherds  with  which  the  site  of  Mycenae  is 
covered  have  lost  nothing  of  their  freshness  of  colour, 


i6 


EXCAVATIONS  AT  TIRYNS. 


[Chap.  L 


though  they  have  been  exposed  for  more  than  2300  years 
to  the  sun  and  rain. 

I  dug  up  at  Tiryns  a  large  quantity  of  fragments  of 
terra-cotta  goblets,  which,  like  those  found  at  Mycenas, 
are  of  white  clay,  and  without  any  painted  ornaments;* 
but  they  are  not  found  beyond  a  depth  of  8  feet  below 
the  surface.  At  a  depth  of  from  8  to  10  feet  I  found  only 
goblets  of  a  greenish  or  dark  red  colour.  All  of  them 
have  the  form  of  the  large  modern  Bordeaux  wine-glasses. 

All  this  splendid  pottery  denotes  a  high  civilisation,  such 
as  the  men  who  built  the  Cyclopean  city  walls  can  hardly 
have  reached.  Hence,  all  this  beautiful  pottery  was  either 
imported,  or  (and  this  appears  more  likely)  it  has  been 
manufactured  by  the  nation  which  succeeded  the  Cyclopean 
wall-builders,  and  to  these  latter  must  belong  all  the  hand- 
made monochromatic  pottery  which  I  found  in  Tiryns  on 
and  near  the  virgin  soil.  The  colour  of  this  pottery  is  that 
of  the  clay  itself,  which  on  the  vast  majority  of  the  smaller 
vases  has  been  wrought  by  hand-polishing  to  a  lustrous 
surface ;  nearly  all  the  black  vases  have  been  hand-polished 
both  on  the  inside  and  outside,  and  are  very  pretty.  All 
the  larger  jars  are  bulky,  as  well  as  many  of  the  other  large 
vases ;  and  many  of  them  have  on  each  side  a  very  short 
handle  placed  horizontally,  with  a  broad  hole,  which  may 
have  been  used  for  suspension  by  a  string.  In  this  stratum 
I  found  neither  cows  nor  female  idols.  Of  this  hand  made 
pottery  I  have  been  fortunate  enough  to  take  out,  besides 
hundreds  of  fragments,  two  entire  vases,  of  which  I  give 
the  drawings  annexed  (Nos.  13  and  i4).f 

With  regard  to  the  chronology  of  the  Tirynthian  pottery, 


*  Such  as  the  goblet  represented  on  p.  70,  No.  83. 

t  To  each  object  is  attached  a  number  denoting  the  exact  depth  in  meters 
at  which  it  was  found ;  so  e.g.  3$  M.  means  3^  meters ;  each  meter  has 
about  z\feei-  I  call  particular  attention  to  this.  In  order  to  retain  the 
precision  of  these  numbers,  and  to  avoid  the  labour  and  chance  of 
error  in  converting  them  into  feet  and  inches,  a  comparative  table  of 
French  and  English  measures  is  prefixed  to  the  book. 


1876.]  PROBABLE  DATE  OF  THE  POTTERY.  17 

if  the  date  of  about  1400-1200  B.C.,  generally  attributed 
to  the  most  ancient  Attic  vases,  were  correct,  we  might 


No.  13.   Tcrra-Cotta  Vessel,  from  Tiryns.    (3  M.)    About  half-size. 


perhaps  assign  a  like  date  to  the  establishment  in  Tiryns  of 
the  second  nation ;  for  to  the  same  period  must  be  ascribed 
the  bird-headed  idol  described  above,*  and  a  quantity  of 


No.  14.    Tcrra-Cotta  Vessel,  from  Tiryns.    (3!  M.)    Size  2  :  3  about. 


fragments  of  very  ancient  painted  vases  with  similar  patterns. 
But  for  several  reasons,  which  will  hereafter  be  explained, 


See  p.  13,  and  the  coloured  Plate  A,  fig.  c. 


3 


i8 


EXCAVATIONS  AT  TIRYNS. 


[Chap.  I. 


I  am  unable  to  attribute  these  vases  to  a  remoter  age  than 
from  iooo  to  800  B.C.,  and  I  cannot  therefore  admit  the 
settlement  of  the  second  nation  at  Tiryns  to  have  taken 
place  at  an  earlier  epoch.  It  will  probably  for  ever  remain 
mere  guesswork  to  what  date  belongs  the  stratum  of  hand- 
made pottery  on  and  near  the  virgin  soil ;  but  if  we  suppose 
that  the  most  ancient  examples  of  this  pottery  are  older, 
by  800  years,  than  the  most  ancient  painted  vases  of  the 
second  nation,  and  that,  consequently,  the  building  of  the 
Cyclopean  walls  of  Tiryns  was  from  1800  to  1600  B.C.,  I 
think  we  shall  be  very  near  the  right  date.  I  have  vainly 
endeavoured  to  recognise  an  affinity  between  the  primitive 
Tirynthian  pottery  and- that  of  any  one  of  the  four  pre- 
historic cities  of  Troy.  After  mature  consideration,  I  find 
that  there  is  no  resemblance  whatever,  except  in  the  goblets 
whose  form  is  also  found  in  the  oldest  prehistoric  city  on 
Mount  Hissarlik. 

Not  the  least  interesting  object  I  discovered  at  Tiryns 
was  the  skeleton  of  a  man  at  a  depth  of  i6h  feet.  The 
bones  are  partly  petrified,  but  I  attribute  this  merely  to  the 
nature  of  the  soil  in  which  the  skeleton  has  been  imbedded. 
Some  of  the  bones  had  swollen  considerably  owing  to  the 
damp,  and  this  may  also  be  the  case  with  the  lower  jaw- 
bone, which  is  enormously  thick.  Unfortunately  I  have 
been  able  to  save  only  part  of  the  skull. 

I  have  still  to  mention  that  in  all  the  prehistoric  strata  I 
found  very  srnall  knives  of  obsidian  ;  but,  as  before  stated, 
no  weapon  or  implement  of  stone.  Many  small  conical 
whorls  of  blue  or  green  stone  *  were  found  in  the  strata 

*  These  are  exactly  like  the  whorls  found  at  Mycenae.   See  No.  15. 


No.  15.    Stone  Whorl,  found  at  Mycena;.    (5  m.)    Actual  size. 


1876.]  NOTE  ON  HERA  BOOPIS.  1 9 

of  the  nation  second  in  succession,  but  only  two  very  rude 
ones  of  baked  clay. 

Taking  the  average  depth  of  the  virgin  soil  in  the  upper 
and  lower  citadels,  as  ascertained  by  my  shafts,  to  be  1  r66 
feet,  I  find  by  accurate  calculation,  that  the  quantity  of 
ddbris  to  be  removed  at  Tiryns  does  not  fall  short  of 
36,000  cubic  metres.  From  this,  however,  are  to  be  deducted 
the  cubic  contents  of  the  Cyclopean  house-walls,  of  the 
curious  water-conduits  and  of  a  couple  of  cisterns  (only  one 
of  which,  however,  I  have  been  able  to  find),  on  the  south 
side.  I  hope  to  accomplish  this  work  some  day,  but  first 
of  all  I  must  finish  the  much  more  important  excavation 
in  the  Acropolis  of  Mycenae,  and  of  the  Treasury  close  to 
the  Lions'  Gate,  which  I  intend  to  commence  forthwith.  I 
know  that,  after  Troy,  I  could  not  possibly  render  a  greater 
service  to  science  than  by  excavating  at  Mycenae  ;  because 
if,  as  is  probable,  the  Cyclopean  walls  of  its  Acropolis 
belong  to  the  same  remote  antiquity  as  the  walls  of  Tiryns, 
the  architecture  of  its  Treasuries  is  at  all  events  more 
modern,  and  there  can  be  no  doubt  whatever  that  such 
was  in  general  use  in  the  time  of  Homer,  who  describes 
it  by  the  phrase  dakafxoL  ^eaTolo  \C9oio  ("  chambers  of 
polished  stone  "). 

My  esteemed  friends,  Professors  Castorches,  Phendikles, 
and  Pappadakes  return  to-day  to  Athens. 

Note  A. — "  Hera  Boons." 

I  extract  the  following  from  my  Paper  on  Troy,  read  on  the  24th  of 
June  1875,  before  the  Society  of  Antiquaries  in  London. 

It  has  been  said  by  a  great  scholar,1  that,  whatever  else  the 
Homeric  epithet  yXavKwTri^  may  mean,  it  cannot  mean  owl-headed, 
unless  we  suppose  that  *H/oij  /?oo)7ris  was  represented  as  a  cow-headed 
monster.  I  found  in  my  excavations  at  Troy  three  splendid  cow- 
heads  with  long  horns  of  terra-cotta,2  and  I  believe  them  to  be  derived 
from  Hera- idols,  but  I  cannot  prove  it.     But  it  is  not  difficult  to 


1  Professor  Max  Muller,  in  the  'Academy,'  January  io,  1874. 
*  See  'Troy  and  its  Remains,'  p.  294. 


20 


EXCAVATIONS  AT  TIRYNS. 


[Chap.  I. 


prove  that  this  goddess  had  originally  a  cow's  face,  from  which  her 
Homeric  epithet  (Sow-xis  was  derived.  When  in  the  battle  between  the 
gods  and  the  giants,  the  former  took  the  shape  of  animals,  Hera  took 
the  form  of  a  white  cow,  "  nivea  Saturnia  vacca."  1  We  find  a  cow's 
head  on  the  coins  of  the  island  of  Samos,  which  had  the  most  ancient 
temple  of  Hera,  and  was  celebrated  for  its  worship  of  this  goddess.2 
We  further  find  the  cow's  head  on  the  coins  of  Messene,  a  Samian 
colony  in  Sicily.3  The  relation  of  Hera  to  the  cow  is  further  proved  by 
the  name  E{>/3oia,  which  was  at  once  her  epithet,4  the  name  of  one 
of  her  nurses,5  the  name  of  the  island  in  which  she  was  brought  up,6 
and  the  name  of  the  mountain  at  the  foot  of  which  her  most  celebrated 
temple  (the  Herseon)  was  situated.7  But  in  the  name  Evf3oia  is  contained 
the  word  /?oSs.  Hera  had  in  Corinth  the  epithet  (3owma,8  in  which  the  word 
f3ov<;  is  likewise  contained.  White  cows  were  sacrificed  to  Hera.9  The 
priestess  rode  in  a  car  drawn  by  white  bulls  to  the  temple  of  the 
Argive  Hera.10  16,  the  daughter  of  Inachus,  the  first  king  of  Argos, 
was  changed  by  Hera  into  a  cow.11  16  was  priestess  of  Hera,12  and  she 
is  represented  as  the  cow-goddess  Hera.13  Id's  cow-form  is  further 
confirmed  by  ^Eschylus.14  The  Egyptian  goddess  Isis  was  born  in 
Argos,  and  was  identified  with  the  cow-shaped  I6.15  Isis  was  repre- 
sented in  Egypt  as  a  female  with  cow-horns,  like  16  in  Greece.16 

The  cow-shaped  16  was  guarded  in  Hera's  sacred  grove  at  Mycente  by 
the  hundred-eyed  Argus,  who  was  killed  by  Hermes,  by  order  of  Zeus  ; 
and  Hera  next  persecuted  16  by  a  gad  fly,  which  forced  her  to  wander 
from  place  to  place.17  Thus  Prometheus  says  :  "  How  should  I  not  hear 
the  daughter  of  Inachus,  who  is  chased  around  by  the  gad  fly?"  But 
the  wandering  of  16  is  nothing  else  than  the  symbol  of  the  moon,  which 
restlessly  moves  in  its  orbit.  This  is  also  shown  by  the  very  name  of  16 
('Iw),  which  is  derived  from  the  root  I  (in  et/u,  I  go).  Even  in  classical 
antiquity  16  was  still  frequently  represented  as  a  cow  ;  as  at  Amyclae.18 
16  continued  to  be  the  old  name  of  the  moon  in  the  religious  mysteries 


I  Ovid,  Metani.  V.  330.  2  Mionnet,  '  Descr.  des  Med.  Ant.'  pi.  lxi.  6. 

3  Millingen,  '  Anc.  Coins  of  Greek  Cities,'  tab.  ii.  12. 

4  Pausanias,  II.  22,  I,  2. 

5  Plut.  Qucest.  Conviv.  III.  9,  2  ;  Etym.  Mag.  388,  56. 

6  Plut.  Fr.  Dadal.  3.  7  Paus.  II.  17,  I.  8  Paus.  II.  4,  7. 
9  Paus.  IX.  3,  4  ;  Hesych.  s.  v.  ayav  xaAKelos.                     10  Herod.  I.  31. 

II  Lucian,  &euv  AiaA.  3  ;  Diod.  Sic.  I.  24,  25  ;  Herod.  II.  41. 

12  JEsch.  Suppl.  299  ;  Apollod.  II.  1,  3 — 

K\r}Sovxov  "Hpas  <fiacrl  SwfxotTwv  Tvori 
'Iai  ytveffdai  TpS  tv  'Apyeia  X®ovh — 1 

13  Creuzer,  'Symbolik,'  II.  576. 

14  Prom.  573,  seq.  and  Hygin.  Fab.  145. 

15  Diod.  Sic.  I.  24,  25  ;  Apollod.  II.  I,  3  ;  Hygin.  145.  16  Herod.  II.  41. 
17  Apollod.    II.  I,   3  ;  ^ischyl.   Prom.,  585  :   irais  8'oii  k\vo>  rrjs  olffrpoZivrirov 

icSpris  rrjs  'Icaxeias.  18  Paus.  III.  18,  13. 


1876.] 


NOTE  ON  HERA  BOOPIS. 


at  Argos.1  Apis,  king  of  the  Argive  realm,  was  the  son  of  Phoroneus, 
and  thus  the  grandson  of  Inachus,  and  the  nephew  of  16.  From  Apis, 
the  Peloponnesus  and  also  Argos  were  called  Apia  ;  after  his  death  he 
was  worshipped  under  the  name  Serapis.2  According  to  another 
tradition,  Apis  ceded  his  dominion  in  Greece  to  his  brother,  and 
became  king  of  Egypt,3  where,  as  Serapis,  he  was  worshipped  in  the 
shape  of  a  bull.  /Kschylus  makes  the  wanderings  of  16  end  in  Egypt, 
where  Jove  restores  her  to  her  shape,  and  she  bears  Epaphus,  another 
name  for  the  bull-god  Apis.  The  cow-horns  of  the  Pelasgian  moon- 
goddess  16,  who  became  later  the  Argive  Hera  and  is  perfectly 
identical  with  her,  as  well  as  the  cow-horns  of  Isis,  were  derived  from 
the  symbolic  horns  of  the  crescent  representing  the  moon.4  No  doubt 
16,  the  later  Hera,  had  at  an  earlier  age,  besides  her  cow-horns,  a  cow's 
face.  Hera,  under  her  old  moon-name  16,  had  a  celebrated  temple  on 
the  site  of  Byzantium,  which  city  was  said  to  have  been  founded  by  her 
daughter  Keroessa — i.e.,  "the  horned."  5  The  crescent,  which  was  in  all 
antiquity  and  throughout  the  Middle  Ages  the  symbol  of  Byzantium, 
and  which  is  now  the  symbol  of  the  Turkish  empire,  is  a  direct  inherit- 
ance from  Byzantium's  mythical  foundress,  Keroessa,  the  daughter  of 
the  moon-goddess  16  (Hera) ;  for  it  is  certain  that  the  Turks  did  not  bring 
it  with  them  from  Asia,  but  found  it  already  an  emblem  of  Byzantium. 
Hera,  16,  and  Isis,  must  at  all  events  be  identical  also  with  Demeter 
Mycalessia,  who  derived  ljer  epithet  "  the  lowing,"  from  her  cow-shape, 
and  had  her  temple  at  Mycalessus  in  Buiotia.  She  had  as  door- 
keeper Hercules,  whose  office  it  was  to  shut  her  sanctuary  in  the 
evening,  and  to  open  it  again  in  the  morning.6  Thus  his  service  is 
identical  with  that  of  Argus,  who  in  the  morning  unfastens  the  cow- 
shaped  16,  and  fastens  her  again  in  the  evening  to  the  olive  tree,7  which 
was  in  the  sacred  grove  of  Mycenae,  close  to  the  'Hpaiov*  The  Argive 
Hera  had,  as  the  symbol  of  fertility,  a  pomegranate,  which,  as  well 
as  the  flowers  with  which  her  crown  was  ornamented,  gave  her  a  telluric 
character.9 


1  Eustath.  ap.  Dionys.  Pericg.  92,  94,  'li>  yap  rj  <rt\vvi)  Kara  tV  rwv  'Apyetoiv 
$td\*KTov,  on  which  Ileyne,  ad  Apollod.  p.  100,  says  :  "  fuisse  suspicor  nomeh  hoc 
caputque  feminx-  cornutum  symbolum  Lunx  apud  Argivos  antiquissimum."  See  also 
Jablonsky,  Panlh.  II.  p.  4  flf. 

'Apollod.  II.  1,  1;  Schol.  Lykophr.  177;  Schol.  Apoll.  Rhod.  IV.  263  ; 
Steph.  Hyz. 

'  Euseb.  Chron.  Pars  L  pp.  96,  127,  130,  cd.  Aucher  ;  Augustin.  de  Civil.  Dei, 
XVIII.  5. 

4  Diod.  Sic.  L  II  j  Pint,  de  Is.  et  Os.  52,  compare  c.  39  ;  Macrob.  Sat.  I.  19  ; 
>Elian,  Hist.  Anim.  X.  27. 

4  O.  Miiller,  Doner,  I.  121  ;  Steph.  Byz.  s.v.  Sv(dfTiov. 

*  Paus.  IX.  19,  4.  r  Ovid.  Afetam.  I.  630.  '  Apollod.  II.  I,  3. 

•  Panofka,  '  Argos  Panoptes,'  tab.  ii.  4  ;  Cadalvene,  '  Rccueil  de  Med.  Gr.'  PI. 
III.  I;  Miiller,  '  Denkmaler,'  XXX.  132  ;  Due  de  Luynes,  'Etudes  Numismat.' 
pp.  22-25. 


22 


EXCAVATIONS  AT  TIRYNS. 


[Ch.  I.  1876. 


In  the  same  way  that  in  Bceotia  the  epithet  Mycalessia,  "  the  lowing," 
a  derivation  from  fi.vKaa-OaL,  was  given  to  Demeter,  on  account  of  her 
cow-form,  so  in  the  plain  of  Argos  the  name  of  Mviajvai,  a  derivative 
from  the  same  verb,  was  given  to  the  city  most  celebrated  for  the  cultus 
of  Hera,  and  this  can  only  be  explained  by  her  cow-form.  I  may  here 
mention  that  MvKdXr]  was  the  name  of  the  mount  and  promontory 
directly  opposite  to  and  in  the  immediate  neighbourhood  of  the  island 
of  Samos,  which  was  celebrated  for  the  worship  of  Hera. 

In  consideration  of  this  long  series  of  proofs,  certainly  no  one  will 
for  a  moment  doubt  that  Hera's  Homeric  epithet  /?oa>7ris  shows  her  to 
have  been  at  one  time  represented  with  a  cow's  face,  in  the  same  way  as 
Athena's  Homeric  epithet  yXavKunris  shows  this  goddess  to  have  once 
been  represented  with  an  owl's  face.  But  in  the  history  of  these  two 
epithets  there  are  evidently  three  stages,  in  which  they  had  different 
significations.  In  the  first  stage  the  ideal  conception  and  the  naming  of 
the  goddesses  took  place,  and  in  that  naming,  as  my  esteemed  friend 
Professor  Max  Muller  rightly  observed  to  me,  the  epithets  were  figurative 
or  ideal,  that  is,  natural.  Hera  (16),  as  deity  of  the  moon,  would 
receive  her  epithet  /?oa>7ris  from  the  symbolic  horns  of  the  crescent 
moon  and  its  dark  spots,  which  resemble  a  face  with  large  eyes  ;  whilst 
Athena,  as  goddess  of  the  dawn,  doubtless  received  the  epithet  -yA.auKa>7n.s 
to  indicate  the  light  of  the  opening  day. 

In  the  second  stage  of  these  epithets  the  deities  were  represented  by 
idols,  in  which  the  former  figurative  intention  was  forgotten,  and  the 
epithets  were  materialised  into  a  cow-face  for  Hera,  and  into  an  owl- 
face  for  Athena ;  and  I  make  bold  to  assert  that  it  is  not  possible  to 
describe  such  cow-faced  or  owl-faced  female  figures  by  any  other 
epithets  than  by  /?o£>7n,s  and  yXavKwrns.  The  word  7rpoo-<o7rov  for  '  face,' 
which  is  so  often  used  in  Homer,  and  is  probably  thousands  of  years 
older  than  the  poet,  is  never  found  in  compounds,  whilst  words  with  the 
suffix  -eiS?7s  refer  to  expression  or  likeness  in  general.  Thus,  if  Hera 
had  had  the  epithet  of  /JooeiS^s,  and  Athena  that  of  ykavKoeiSys,  we 
should  have  understood  nothing  else  but  that  the  former  had  the  shape 
and  form  of  a  cow,  and  the  lacter  that  of  an  owl. 

To  this  second  stage  belong  all  the  prehistoric  ruins  at  Hissarlik, 
Tiryns,  and  Mycenae. 

The  third  stage  in  the  history  of  the  two  epithets  is  when,  after  Hera 
and  Athena  had  lost  their  cow  and  owl  faces,  and  received  the  faces  of 
women,  and  after  the  cow  and  the  owl  had  become  the  attributes  of 
these  deities,  and  had,  as  such,  been  placed  at  their  side,  /3ou>7ris  and 
yXavKwiris  continued  to  be  used  as  epithets  consecrated  by  the  use  of 
ages,  and  probably  with  the  meaning  "  large-eyed/'  and  "  owl-eyed." 
To  this  third  stage  belong  the  Homeric  rhapsodies. 


PLATE.  II 


lojact page  2j. 


the  Cyclopean  Bridge  at  Mycenae  * 


CHAPTER  II. 

Topography  of  Mycenae, 
gate  of  the  lions  and  treasury  of  atreus. 

The  road  from  Argos  to  Mycenae — The  Plain  of  Argos  :  its  rivers  and 
hills,  horses  and  vegetation — Myth  regarding  its  arid  nature — Swamps 
in  the  southern  part;  and  fable  of  the  Perm-can  hydra — Early  social 
development  here — Legend  of  Phoroneus — The  Pelasgiao  Argos — 
The  Achaean  states  of  Argos  and  Mycenae — Situation  of  Mycenae — 
The  Ci/at/c/ and  its  Cyclopean  walls — The  term  defined — "Gate  of 
the  Lions  " — The  postern  gate — Cisterns — Poetical  confusion  of 
Argos  and  Mycenae. 

The  Lower  City :  its  house-walls,  bridge,  treasuries,  and  pottery — Its 
partially  enclosing  wall — The  undefended  suburb,  and  its  large 


*  In  the  background  is  the  second  peak  of  Mount  Eubcea,  2000 
feet  high,  which  rises  immediately  south  of  the  Acropolis  of  Mycenae. 


24 


TOPOGRAPHY  OF  MYCENAE. 


[Chap.  II. 


buildings — Its  extent — The  only  two  wells  in  Mycenae — Three 
Treasuries  in  the  suburb — Treasuries  in  the  Lower  City — Description 
of  the  "  Treasury  of  Atreus  " — Dodwell's  Argument  for  regarding  the 
building  as  a  Treasury — Uniqueness  of  these  structures— Excavation 
of  the  Treasury  by  Veli  Pasha. 

Mycenae,  August  19,  1876. 
I  arrived  here  on  the  7th  inst.  by  the  same  road  which 
Pausanias  *  describes.  The  distance  from  Argos  is  only 
50  stadia,  or  5-8  English  miles.  Pausanias  saw,  on  that 
side  of  Argos  which  looked  toward  Mycenae,  the  temple  of 
Lucina  (ElXeCdvia),  and  next  an  altar  of  the  Sun,  which 
appears  to  have  been  on  the  bank  of  the  Inachus.  After 
having  passed  this  river  he  saw,  to  his  right,  the  temple 
of  the  Mysian  Demeter,  and  further  on  to  his  left  the 
mausoleum  of  Thyestes,  the  brother  of  Atreus  and  uncle 
of  Agamemnon.  This  monument  was  crowned  with  a  ram 
of  stone,  in  commemoration  of  the  adultery  of  Thyestes 
with  his  brother's  wife.  Still  further  on  he  saw,  to  his  right, 
the  temple  (rjpcpov)  of  Perseus,  the  founder  of  Mycenae. 
But  of  all  these  monuments  not  a  vestige  now  remains. 

The  first  river  I  passed,  in  coming  from  Argos,  was  the 
ancient  XapaSpo?,  now  called  Rema,  an  affluent  of  the 
Inachus,  on  the  banks  of  which,  as  Thucydides  f  informs 
us,  the  Argives  were  in  the  habit  of  holding  a  military 
court  on  the  return  of  their  armies  from  abroad,  before 
allowing  them  to  enter  the  city.  Soon  afterwards  I  passed 
the  very  wide  bed  of  the  famous  river  Inachus,  now  called 
Bonitza,  which  traverses  the  plain  of  Argos  in  its  entire 
length.  The  beds  of  both  these  rivers  are  dry  except  when 
heavy  rain  falls  in  the  mountains ;  and  this  appears  to  have 
been  the  case  also  in  the  time  of  Pausanias,  who  says  J 
that  he  found  the  sources  of  the  Inachus  on  Mount  Arte- 
misium,  but  that  the  quantity  of  water  was  very  insigni- 
ficant and  it  only  ran  for  a  short  distance.    This  seems  to 


*  II.  18.  See  the  Sketch  Map  on  p.  1. 
t  V.  60.  %  II.  25,  3. 


1876.]  ROAD  FROM  ARGOS  TO  MYCENyE.  25 

prove  beyond  any  doubt  that  the  Arcadian  mountains  were 
then  already  as  bare  of  trees  as  they  are  now. 

But  as  the  Inachus  plays  so  important  a  part  in  the 
mythic  legends  of  the  Argolid,  which  make  him  the 
husband  of  Meleia  and  father  of  Phoroneus,  the  first  king 
of  Argos,  and  of  the  moon-goddess  Io  (the  later  Hera), 
there  can  be  no  doubt  that  in  prehistoric  times  the  Inachus 
was  a  river  of  some  consequence.  This,  however,  seems  to 
be  only  possible  if  we  suppose  the  Arcadian  mountains 
to  have  been  at  that  time  overgrown  with  forests.  That 
the  Inachus  was  once,  and  for  ages,  an  abundant  river,  is 
proved  also  by  the  fact  that  the  whole  plain  of  Argos  has 
been  formed  by  the  alluvia  of  its  rivers,  but  principally  by 
those  of  the  Inachus. 

Further  upon  the  road  from  Argos  to  Mycenae  I 
passed  another  smaller  river-bed,  which  seems  to  be  the 
Cephisus  mentioned  by  Pausanias.  *  In  speaking  of  the 
rivers  of  the  plain  of  Argos,  I  must  further  mention  the 
two  streams  Eleuthcrion  and  Asterion,  between  which  was 
situated  the  celebrated  Heracum  on  the  lower  slope  of 
Mount  Euboea.  Both  are  now  dry  and  have  no  water 
except  in  heavy  and  long-continued  rains,  but  they  seem 
still  in  classical  antiquity  to  have  had  an  abundance  of 
water  all  the  year  round,  for  the  Eleutherion  was  the 
sacred  water  used  in  the  religious  ceremonies  at  the 
temple,  whilst  the  water  of  the  Asterion  fed  the  asterion- 
plant  (a  kind  of  aster),  sacred  to  Hera,  from  the  leaves  of 
which  wreaths  and  festoons  were  made  for  the  goddess. 
The  very  name  also  of  Mount  Eubcea  seems  to  indicate 
that  it  was  once  a  rich  pasture  ground,  whilst  now  it  is  as 
completely  barren  of  all  vegetation  as  are  the  beds  and 
banks  of  the  two  rivers. 

The  plain  of  Argos  is  enclosed  on  the  west  and  north 


*  Kr}<f>ur6i.  II.  15,  5;  the  lesser  streams  are  not  shown  on  the 
Sketch  Map,  p.  1. 


4 


26  TOPOGRAPHY  OF  MYCEN^:.  [Chap.  II. 

by  the  highlands  of  Artemisium,  on  the  east  by  those  of 
Arachnaeon.  From  the  former  several  parallel  ridges  of 
hills  advance  for  some  distance  into  the  plain ;  the  most 
northerly  of  them  is  Mount  Lycone,  which  terminates  in 
Mount  Larissa,  900  feet  high,  with  the  Acropolis  of  Argos, 
the  city  itself  being  situated  at  the  foot  of  the  mount,  in 
the  plain.  The  second  ridge  is  the  Chaon,  at  the  foot  of 
which  the  river  Erasinus  issues  in  a  copious  stream  and 
falls  into  the  Argolic  Gulf,  turning  many  mills.  This  river 
was  in  all  antiquity  considered  to  be  identical  with  the 
Stymphalus,  which  disappears  by  two  subterranean  chan- 
nels under  Mount  Apelauron  in  Arcadia.  The  third 
parallel  ridge  is  the  Pontinus.  On  the  east  side  much 
smaller  and  more  detached  hills  slope  gently  into  the  plain. 
To  the  north  the  mountains  are  very  rough  and  abrupt. 
On  the  north  and  south-east  of  the  Acropolis  of  Mycenae 
are  the  two  highest  peaks  of  Mount  Euboea;*  the  northern 
one,  which  is  crowned  with  an  open  chapel  of  the  pro- 
phet Elias,  is  2500  feet  high. 

In  all  antiquity  the  plain  of  Argos  was  celebrated  for 
the  breeding  of  horses,  and  Homer,  f  seven  times  in  the 
Iliad,  praises  its  splendid  horse-pasture  grounds  by  the 
epithet  "  t7T7rd/3oTos." 

Owing  to  the  great  dryness  of  the  land,  wine  and  cotton 
can  now  be  grown  only  in  the  fertile  lower  plain,  and  a 
little  corn  and  tobacco  is  all  that  can  be  produced  in  the 
highlands.  Even  as  late  as  the  Greek  war  of  indepen- 
dence (1821)  there  must  have  been  much  more  moisture 
here,  because  at  that  time  the  whole  plain,  and  even  a  large 
portion  of  the  highlands,  were  thickly  planted  with  mul- 


*  The  accuracy  of  this  name  is  confirmed  by  Pausanias,  II.  17,  §  2. 
t  //.  II.  287,  III.  75  and  258,  VI.  152,  IX.  246,  XV.  30,  and 
XIX.  329.    Comp.  Horat.  Carm.  I.  7,  8,  9: — 


"  Plurimus  in  Junonis  honorem 
Aptum  dicet  equis  Argos,  ditesque  Mycenas." 


1876.]  THE  PLAIN  OF  ARGOS.  27 

berry,  orange,  and  olive  trees,  which  have  now  altogether 
disappeared. 

The  epithet  7ro\uSu|/toi/,  "  very  thirsty,"  which  Homer 
gives  to  the  plain  of  Argos,  agrees  perfectly  with  its  present 
condition,  and  also  with  the  myth  told  by  Pausanias :  * 
"  Poseidon  and  Hera  disputed  about  the  possession  of  the 
land  (the  plain  of  Argos),  and  Phoroneus,  son  of  the  river 
Inachus,  Cephisus,  Asterion,  and  Inachus  himself,  had  to 
decide ;  they  adjudged  the  plain  to  Hera,  whereupon 
Poseidon  made  the  waters  disappear.  Hence  neither 
Inachus  nor  any  other  of  the  aforesaid  rivers  have  any 
water,  except  when  Jove  sends  rain  (Zeus  vet) ;  in  summer 
all  the  rivers  are  dry  except  the  (springs  of)  Lerna."  The 
epithet  TrokvhiijjLov,  however,  does  not  agree  with  the 
passage  already  cited  from  Aristotle,t  which  asserts  that 
at  the  time  of  the  war  of  Troy  the  land  of  Argos  was 
swampy,  whilst  that  of  Mycenae  was  good. 

The  most  southern  part  of  the  plain  of  Argos  has  at  all 
times  had  a  great  abundance  of  water,  but  with  little  or  no 
profit  to  agriculture ;  for  the  sea-shore  is  lined  with  vast 
and  almost  impassable  swamps,  and  the  river  Erasinus, 
which  pours  down  from  Mount  Chaon,  soon  empties  itself 
into  the  Gulf  of  Nauplia.  Further,  the  springs  at  the  foot 
of  Mount  Pontinus  form  the  famous  swamps  of  Lerna, 
where  Hercules  is  fabled  to  have  killed  the  Hydra.  Pro- 
bably this  myth  is  the  symbolic  account  of  an  attempt 
once  made  to  drain  the  swamps  and  to  convert  them  into 
arable  land. 

Owing  to  its  exuberant  fertility  and  exceptional  situa- 
tion on  the  splendid  gulf,  this  plain  has  been  the  natural 
centre  and  the  point  of  departure  for  the  whole  political 
and  social  development  of  the  country,  and  for  this  reason 
it  deserves  the  appellation  "  ancient  Argos."  \  Here  Pho- 
roneus, son  of  the  river  Inachus  and  the  nymph  Meleia, 


•  II.  15- 


t  Mrtcorol.  i.  14- 


+  Soph.  Elcctra,  4. 


28 


TOPOGRAPHY  OF  MYCENAE.  [Chap.  II. 


was  said,  with  his  wife  Niobe,  to  have  first  united  the  in- 
habitants, who  till  then  had  lived  dispersed,  into  one 
community,  and  to  have  founded  a  city  which  he  called 
vA(ttv  <$>op(oviKov*  which  was  renamed  by  his  grandson 
Argos,  and  became  the  centre  of  a  powerful  Pelasgic  state. f 
Indisputable  proofs  of  this  Pelasgic  settlement  are  found  in 
both  the  names  Argos  and  Larissa,  which  are  Pelasgic, 
the  former  meaning  "  plain,"  the  latter  "  fortress  " ;  further, 
in  the  myth  of  the  ancient  Pelasgic  moon  and  cow-goddess 
16,  who,  as  has  been  said  above,  was  fabled  to  have  been 
born  here,  her  father  being  the  river  Inachus.  The 
Pelasgic  state  comes  afterwards  under  the  dominion  of  the 
Pelopids,  under  whom  the  country  is  divided  into  two 
states,  as  we  find  it  still  in  the  Iliad;  the  northern  part, 
with  the  capital  Mycenae,  being  under  the  sceptre  of 
Agamemnon ;  the  southern,  with  Argos  as  its  capital, 
under  the  dominion  of  Diomedes,  who  was,  however,  only 
a  vassal  of  the  former.  At  all  events,  at  the  time  of  the 
invasion  of  the  Peloponnesus  by  the  Dorians,  Argos  was 
the  mightiest  state  in  the  peninsula,  and  thus  tradition 
allots  it  to  the  Heraclid  Temenus,  the  firstborn  son  of 
Aristomachus. 

The  situation  of  Mycenae  is  beautifully  described  by 
Homer,;};  "  In  the  depth  of  the  horse-feeding  Argos," 
because  it  lies  in  the  north  corner  of  the  plain  of  Argos, 
in  a  recess  between  the  two  majestic  peaks  of  Mount 
Eubcea,  whence  it  commanded  the  upper  part  of  the  great 
plain  and  the  important  narrow  pass,  by  which  the  roads 
lead  to  Phlius,  Cleonas,  and  Corinth.  The  Acropolis 
occupied  a  strong  rocky  height,  which  projects  from  the 
foot  of  the  mountain  behind  it  in  the  form  of  an  irregular 
triangle  sloping  to  the  west.§     This  cliff  overhangs  a 

*  Paus.  II.  15,5;  comp.  Plato,  Timaus. 
t  Comp.  yEschyl.  Supftl.  250. 

%    Od.  III.  263: — " /Xtl^(2 '  Apycos  l7T7ro/?OTOtO." 

§  See  the  large  Plate  II.  and  Plan  B  of  the  Acropolis. 


1876.J  SITUATION  OF  MYCENAE.  29 

deep  gorge,  which  protects  the  whole  south  flank  of  the 
citadel.  Through  the  abyss  below  winds  the  bed  of  a  torrent 
usually  almost  dry,  because  it  has  no  other  water  than  that 
of  the  copious  fountain  Perseia,  which  is  about  half  a  mile 
to  the  north-east  of  the  fortress.  This  gorge  extends  first 
from  east  to  west,  and  afterwards  in  a  south-westerly  direc- 
tion. The  cliff  also  falls  off  precipitously  on  the  north  side 
into  a  glen,  which  stretches  in  a  straight  line  from  east  to 
west.  Between  these  two  gorges  extended  the  lower  city. 
The  cliff  of  the  citadel  is  also  more  or  less  steep  on  the 
east  and  west  side,  where  it  forms  six  natural  or  artificial 
terraces. 

The  Acropolis  is  surrounded  by  Cyclopean  walls,  from 
13  to  35  feet  high,  and  on  an  average  16  feet  thick. 
Their  entire  circuit  still  exists,  but  they  have  evidently  been 
much  higher.  They  are  of  beautiful  hard  breccia,  with  which 
the  neighbouring  mountains  abound.  They  follow  the 
sinuosities  of  the  rock,  and  show  three  different  kinds  of 
architecture.  By  far  the  greater  portion  of  them  is  built 
exactly  like  the  walls  of  Tiryns,  although  not  so  massively ; 
and  as  this  kind  of  architecture  is  generally  thought  to  be  the 
most  ancient,  I  have  marked  it  on  the  adjoining  cut  (No.  1  y) 


No.  17.    Walls  of  the  First  Period. 


with  the  words,  "  Walls  of  the  first  period."  A  large  piece 
of  the  western  wall  I  have  marked  on  the  accompanying  cut 
(No.  1 8)  as  "  Walls  of  the  second  period,"  because  it  consists 
of  polygons,  fitted  together  with  great  art,  so  that,  in  spite 
of  the  infinite  variety  of  the  joints,  they  formed  as  it  were 
one  solidly  united  and  neat  wall,  as  if  of  rock;  and  this 
sort  of  building,  which  can  be  seen  in  so  many  places  in 


30 


TOPOGRAPHY  OF  MYCEN^. 


[Chap.  II. 


Greece  and  Southern  Italy,  is  universally  acknowledged  to 
be  generally  of  a  later  period  than  the  former.     I  have 


No.  18.    Walls  of  the  Second  Period. 


marked  here  (No.  19)  as  "Walls  of  the  third  period"  those 
walls  to  the  right  and  left  of  the  great  gate,  which  consist 
of  almost  quadrangular  blocks  arranged  in  horizontal  layers  ; 
but  their  joints  are  not  always  vertical  and  they  present 
lines  more  or  less  oblique. 


No.  19.    Walls  ot  the  Third  Period. 

I  have  made  this  division  into  three  periods  merely  to 
point  out  the  different  architecture  of  the  walls,  and  with 
no  intention  of  maintaining  that  the  one  must  be  more 
ancient  than  the  other.  On  the  contrary,  after  mature 
consideration,  I  cannot  think  that  the  one  kind  of  wall 
should  be  considered  older  than  the  other,  for,  after  the 
circuit  walls  had  once  been  built  of  rough  stones  of  enor- 
mous size,  it  is  hardly  possible  that  in  after  times  part  of 
them  should  have  been  destroyed  in  order  to  replace  them 
by  walls  of  another  type.  Or  if  part  of  the  primitive  walls 
had  been  razed  by  an  enemy,  there  could  have  been  no 
reason  why  they  should  not  be  restored  in  the  same  style, 


1876.]  THREE  KINDS  OF  PRIMITIVE  WALLS.  31 

which  was  quite  as  solid  as  the  other,  and  was  besides  much 
cheaper  and  easier,  because  only  the  wall  could  have 
been  destroyed,  but  not  the  stones,  which  lay  ready  to  be 
put  up  again.  It  appears  also  to  have  been  the  custom  of 
the  primitive  builders  to  pay  a  little  more  attention  to  sym- 
metry and  regularity  in  the  more  monumental  portions  of 
their  work.  I  conclude,  therefore,  that  the  three  kinds 
of  architecture  existed  simultaneously  in  that  remote  age 
of  antiquity  when  the  walls  of  Mycenae;  were  built,  but 
that  in  later  times  the  style  of  architecture  marked  as  of 
the  "first  period"  went  out  of  fashion,  and  the  two  other 
modes  of  building  alone  remained  in  use.  Walls  of  poly- 
gonal blocks  continued  in  use  in  Greece  until  the  time 
of  the  Macedonian  dominion  ;  a  proof  of  which  is  seen, 
for  instance,  in  the  masonry  of  the  sepulchres  at  the  Hagia 
Trias  in  Athens,  as  well  as  the  fortifications  on  the  island 
of  Salamis,  of  which  we  know  with  certainty  that  they 
were  erected  in  the  fourth  or  fifth  century,  B.C.*  Within 
the  last  sixteen  years  walls  of  polygonal  blocks  have  come 
extensively  into  use  in  Sweden  and  Norway,  particularly 
for  the  substructions  of  railway  bridges. 

The  first  western  terrace  is  bordered  on  its  east  side,  for 
a  distance  of  166  feet,  by  a  Cyclopean  wall  30  feet  high, 
which  is  crowned  by  the  ruins  of  a  tower,  and  runs  parallel 
with  the  great  circuit  wall  ;  it  is  no  doubt  part  of  a  second 
enclosure.f  Remnants  of  other  enclosures  are  visible  a  little 
higher  up  the  mount  to  the  left,  as  well  as  on  the  eastern 
side.  A  second  interior  tower  appears  to  have  stood  at  the 
south-western  corner  of  the  summit. 

Near  the  north-western  corner  the  circuit  wall  is  tra- 
versed by  an  ogive-like  passage  i6h  feet  long,  like  those 
of  Tiryns  (see  No.  20).    Traces  of  Cyclopean  house-walls 

*  See  Emile  Burnouf,  '  La  Ville  et  l'Acropole  d'Athenes.' 

t  A  good  view  of  this  wonderful  wall  is  seen  in  the  background  of 
Plate  VI,  which  represents  the  Ichnography  of  the  tombs  discovered 
in  the  Acropolis.    (See  Chap.  V.) 


32  TOPOGRAPHY  OF  MYCENLE.  [Chap.  II. 

and  foundations  can  be  seen  on  all  but  the  first  eastern 
and  western  terraces. 


No.  20.    Entrance  to  the  ogive-like  Gallery  in  the 
Walls  of  the  Citadel  of  Mycense. 


Notwithstanding  the  remote  antiquity  of  Mycenae, 
its  ruins  are  in  a  far  better  state  of  preservation  than 
those  of  any  of  the  Greek  cities  which  Pausanias  saw  in  a 
flourishing  condition,  and  whose  sumptuous  monuments 
he  describes  (about  170  a.d.)  ;  and,  owing  to  its  distant 
and  secluded  position,  and  to  the  rudeness,  magnitude,  and 
solidity  of  the  ruins,  it  is  hardly  possible  to  think  that  any 
change  can  have  taken  place  in  the  general  aspect  of 
Mycenas  since  it  was  seen  by  Pausanias. 


No.  21.    Gate  of  the  Lions. 

In  the  north-western  corner  of  the  circuit-wall  is  the 
great  "  Lions'  Gate,"  of  beautiful  hard  breccia.*  The  open- 
ing, which  widens  from  the  top  downwards,  is  10  ft.  8  in. 


See  Plan  B.,  Plate  III.,  and  Nos.  21,  22  (p.  34) 


1876.]  GATE  OF  THE  LIONS.  33 

high,  and  its  width  is  9  ft.  6  in.  at  the  top,  and  10  ft. 
3  in.  below.  In  the  lintel  (15  feet  long  and  8  feet  broad) 
are  round  holes,  6  inches  deep,  for  the  hinges,  and  in  the 
two  uprights,  which  it  roofs  over,  are  four  quadrangular 
holes  for  the  bolts.  Over  the  lintel  of  the  gate  is  a  trian- 
gular gap  in  the  masonry  of  the  wall,  formed  by  an  oblique 
approximation  of  the  side  courses  of  stone.  The  object  of 
this  was  to  keep  off  the  pressure  of  the  superincumbent 
wall  from  the  flat  lintel. 

This  niche  is  filled  up  by  a  triangular  slab  of  the  same 
beautiful  breccia  of  which  the  gateway  and  the  walls  con- 
sist:  it  is  10  feet  high,  12  feet  long  at  the  base,  and  2  feet 
thick.  On  the  face  of  the  slab  are  represented  in  relief  two 
lions,  standing  opposite  to  each  other  on  their  long  out- 
stretched hind-legs,  and  resting  with  their  fore-paws  on 
either  side  of  the  top  of  an  altar,  on  the  midst  of  which 
stands  a  column  with  a  capital  formed  of  four  circles 
enclosed  between  two  horizontal  fillets.  The  general  belief 
that  the  heads  of  the  lions  are  broken  off  is  wrong,  for 
on  close  examination  I  find  that  they  were  not  cut  out 
of  the  same  stone  together  with  the  animals,  but  that 
they  were  made  separately  and  fastened  on  the  bodies 
with  bolts.  The  straight  cuts  and  the  borings  in  the 
necks  of  the  animals  can  leave  no  doubt  as  to  this  fact. 
Owing  to  the  narrowness  of  the  space,  the  heads  could 
only  have  been  very  small,  and  they  must  have  been 
protruding  and  facing  the  spectator.  I  feel  inclined  to 
believe  that  they  were  of  bronze  and  gilded.  The  tails 
of  the  lions  are  not  broad  and  bushy,  but  narrow,  like 
those  which  are  seen  in  the  most  ancient  sculptures  of 
Egypt. 

It  is  universally  believed  that  this  sculpture  represents 
some  symbol,  but  many  different  conjectures  have  been  made 
as  to  its  meaning.  One  thinks  that  the  column  alludes  to 
the  solar  worship  of  the  Persians ;  another  believes  that  it  is 
the  symbol  of  the  holy  fire,  and  a  pyrathcion  or  fire  altar,  of 


5 


34 


TOPOGRAPHY  OF  MYCENvE. 


[Chap.  II. 


which  the  lions  are  the  guardians ;  a  third  conjectures  that 
it  represents  Apollo  Agyieus,  that  is,  the  "guardian  of  the 
gateway."  I  am  of  this  last  opinion,  and  firmly  believe 
that  it  is  this  very  same  symbol  of  that  god  which  Sopho- 
cles makes  Orestes  and  Electra  invoke  when  they  enter 
their  father's  house.*  As  to  the  two  lions,  the  expla- 
nation is  still  more  simple.  Pelops,  son  of  the  Phrygian 
king  Tantalus,f  migrated  hither  from  Phrygia,  where  the 
mother  of  the  gods,  Rhea,  whose  sacred  animal  is  the  lion, 
had  a  celebrated  worship.    Most  probably,  therefore,  Pelops 


No.  22.    Plan  of  the  Gate  of  Lions. 

(a)  Wall  of  Acropolis  on  E.  side,    (b)  Face  of  projecting  masonry  on  W.  side. 
(0  Gateway  and  Cill.    {d)  Inner  Gateway. 


brought  with  him  the  cultus  of  the  patron  deity  of  his 
mother-country,  and  made  her  sacred  animal  the  symbol  of 
the  Pelopids.  iEschylus  compares  Agamemnon  himself 
to  a  lion  ;  J  he  also  compares  Agamemnon  with  iEgisthus 
as  a  lion  with  a  wolf.^  Thus  here  above  the  gate  the  two 
lions,  either  as  the  sacred  animals  of  Rhea  or  as  the  symbol 


*  Soph.  Electra,  1374. 

t  Schol.  Eurip.  Orest.  5  ;  Apollod.  iii.  5,6;  Soph.  Antig.  818. 
I  Again.  1259:  \£ovto<;  evyevovs  vnrov<TLa.  §  Again.  1258. 


i876.] 


THE  POSTERN  GATE. 


35 


r 

■ 

• 

■ 

1 

• 

- 

- 

No.  22<z.  The  Right  and  Left  Door  Posts  of 
the  Gate  of  Lions. 


of  the  powerful  dynasty  of  the  Pelopids,  have  been  united 
to  the  symbol  of  Apollo  Agyieus,  the  guardian  of  the  gate- 
way. To  the  left  of  the 
sculpture  of  the  lions  is  a 
large  quadrangular  window 
in  the  wall. 

The  great  gate  stands  at 
right  angles  to  the  adjoining 
wall  of  the  citadel,  and  is 
approached  by  a  passage, 
50  feet  long  and  30  feet 
wide,  formed  by  that  wall 

and  by  another  exterior  wall,  which  runs  nearly  parallel  to 
it,  and  which  forms  part  of  a  large  quadrangular  tower 
erected  for  the  defence  of  the 
entrance.*  Within  these  walls  the 
enemy  could  advance  only  with  a 
small  front  of  perhaps  seven  men, 
exposed  on  three  sides  to  the  arrows 
and  stones  of  the  defenders.  A 
zigzag  road  on  immense  Cyclopean 
substructions,  now  covered  with 
large  blocks  which  have  fallen 
from  the  wall,  led  up  to  the 
entrance  of  the  gateway.  Leake 
rightly  says  that  the  early  citadel 
builders  bestowed  greater  labour 
than  their  successors  on  the  ap- 
proaches to  the  gates,  and  de- 
vised various  modes  of  protract- 
ing the  defence  of  the  interior  by 

numerous  enclosures  and  by  intricacy  of  communication. 
The  postern-gate f  consists  likewise  of  three  large  slabs, 


[3 


L 


No.  23.    Elevation  and  Plan  of  the 
Postern  Gate. 


*  For  an  account  of  the  discovery  of  the  ground  plan  of  the  Lions' 
Gate  and  its  enormous  threshold,  see  Chapter  V. 
t  See  Plan  C,  and  the  cut  No.  23. 


36  TOPOGRAPHY  OF  MYCEN^.  [Chap.  II. 

namely,  two  uprights  and  the  lintel  by  which  these  are 
roofed.  The  opening  of  this  gateway  likewise  widens  from 
the  top  downward ;  at  the  top  it  is  5  ft.  4  in.  wide  and 
5  ft.  11  in.  at  the  bottom.  On  the  lintel  stands  a  triangular 
slab,  inclusive  of  which  the  gate  is  14  feet  high.  The 
grooves  for  the  bolts  in  the  jambs  of  the  door  are  square 
and  of  large  dimensions.  The  situation  of  this  gate  is  not 
very  favourable,  because  the  enemies  who  attacked  it  would 
have  their  left  arm,  which  was  guarded  by  the  shield,  on 
the  side  of  the  Acropolis.  On  the  slope  on  the  west  side 
are  several  subterranean  cisterns. 

According  to  Plutarch,  the  first  name  of  the  mount  of 
the  citadel  was  Argion.*  It  is  significant  that  it  is  never  men- 
tioned by  ancient  authors  under  the  appellation  of  "  acro- 
polis." Sophocles  {Electro)  calls  it  Sco/xa  HeXo-rriScjv  or  '  resi- 
dence of  the  Pelopids,'  also  ovpdvia  relyr),  '  heavenly  walls.' 
Euripides  |  also  calls  it,  "  stone  Cyclopean  heavenly  walls," 
and  further  ^  "  Cyclopean  heavenly  walls,"  and  this  must 
refer  to  the  hugeness  of  the  walls  and  towers.  Strabo  § 
justly  observes  that,  on  account  of  the  close  vicinity 
of  Argos  and  Mycenae,  the  tragic  poets  have  made  a 
confusion  regarding  their  names,  continually  substituting 
the  one  for  the  other.  But  this  is  to  be  excused,  because 
in  antiquity  travelling  was  both  difficult  and  very  unsafe. 
Besides,  people  were  not  archaeologists,  and  though  every 
one  took  the  very  deepest  interest  in  the  ancient  history  of 
Greece,  no  one  cared  to  submit  to  the  trouble  and  hardship, 
or  to  incur  the  danger,  of  visiting  even  the  places  which 
had  been  the  scene  of  his  country's  most  glorious  actions. 
This  could  not  possibly  be  better  proved  than  by  the  fact 
that  no  ancient  author  mentions  the  reconstruction  of 
Mycenae  after  its  capture  and  destruction  in  468  B.C. 


*  To'Apyiov  opos.   De  Fluv.  18,  7. 

t  Troad.  1088,  rei^r)  \diva  KUKAanna  ovpdvia. 

X  Electra,  1158,  kvkXwttuol  ovpdvia  tcix?).  §  VIII.  p.  377. 


1876.]  MYCENAE  AND  ARGOS.  37 

Homer  himself  is  seemingly  guilty  of  making  a  con- 
fusion regarding  the  names  of  Argos  and  Mycenae,  because 
he  puts  into  the  mouth  of  Agamemnon  the  words  concerning 
Chryseis : 

"  Her  I  release  not,  till  her  youth  be  fled  ; 
Within  my  walls,  in  Argos,  far  from  home, 
Her  lot  is  cast,  domestic  cares  to  ply, 
And  share  a  master's  bed    .    .    ." — Lord  Derby.* 

But  by  the  name  Argos  Homer  understands  here  the 
Argolid  territory  and  perhaps  the  whole  Peloponnesus ;  a 
sense  of  which  another  passage  can  leave  no  doubt :  f 

"  O'er  all  the  Argive  coast  and  neighbouring  isles  to  reign." 

The  same  may  be  the  case,  more  or  less,  with  the  later 
tragic  poets,  and  at  all  events  it  must  be  so  with  Euripides, 
because  he  knew  Mycenae  too  well  to  mistake  it  for  Argos. 
Thus  he  calls  MycemrJ  "the  altars  of  the  Cyclopes;" 
"  the  Cyclopean  Mycenae  and  "the  handiwork  of  the 
Cyclopes  "  : —  || 

"  Do  you  call  the  city  of  Perseus  the  handiwork  of  the  Cyclopes  ? " 

In  other  passages  he  says,  "  O  Cyclopean  houses,  O 
my  country,  ()  my  dear  Mycenae!"^  Again,  "Standing 


*  Iliad,  I.  29-31  : 

T7)C  8'  lyt»  oi)  \vffu  irpiv  fiiv  Kal  yripas  (irticriv 
rin(T(p<f>  tv\  oIku;  ty"Apy('i,  rt}\66i  iraTptjs, 
i<nhv  iiroixoixivriv  koi  4/j.bv  Af'xos  avTt6a(Tav. 

t  Iliad,  II.  I08:  iroKKyaiv  vr\aotai  Ka\*hpy*i  Travi-X  avaao-tiv. 

\  Iphigoiia  in  Aulidc,  152  :  kvkXuttidv  dvpekai. 
§  Ibid.  265  :  Mvxrjvai  KvtcXwmai. 
||  Ibid.  1 500-1 50 1  : 

KaAm  v6\io-pia  Ueprrews, 
KuKAawtai/  ttivov  x(P^v  ■' 

IT  Iphig.  Taur.  845  : 

KVK\aiirl5(S  iariat,  &  irOTpu, 
MvKr)va  <pf\a. 


3« 


TOPOGRAPHY  OF  MYCEN^. 


[Chap.  II. 


on  (or  at)  the  stone  steps,  the  herald  calls  aloud  '  To  the 
Agora,  to  the  Agora,  ye  people  of  Mycenae,  to  see  the 
portents  and  the  terrific  signs  of  the  blessed  kings.'"* 
Again,  "  O  mother-country,  O  Pelasgia,  O  my  home, 
Mycenae."|  Again,  "  Dear  ladies  of  Mycenae,  first  in 
rank  in  the  Pelasgic  settlement  of  the  Argives."J  Again, 
"  I  will  go  to  Mycenae ;  crow-bars  and  pickaxes  will  I 
take  to  destroy  with  twisted-iron  the  town,  the  foun- 
dations of  the  Cyclopes,  which  are  well  fitted  together 
with  the  chisel  and  the  purple  rule."§ 

This  description  can  only  refer  to  Cyclopean  walls 
composed  of  well-fitted  polygons,  such  as  we  see  in  the 
western  part  of  the  great  circuit  walls. ||  Besides  Euripides 
knew  accurately  that  the  Agora,  with  the  Royal  sepulchres, 
was  in  the  Acropolis ;  and  thus  it  appears  certain  that 
Euripides  visited  Mycenae,  and  that  the  grand  Cyclopean 
walls  of  the  Acropolis,  as  well  as  the  sacred  enclosure  of  the 
circular  Agora,  with  the  mysterious  tombs  of  the  most 
glorious  heroes  of  antiquity,  made  a  profound  impression 
upon  him,  for  otherwise  we  cannot  explain  his  so  often 


*  Electra,  710: 

irerpi'eois  t'  (Triaras 

Kapv£  iax6'  PdBpois, 

dyopdv,  dyopdv,  Mvkt)vcuoi 

aTei'x€T6,  fxaKapioiv  6ip6fJ.evot  Tvpdvvwv 

(pafffxara,  Sei'juoTo. 

f  Iphigejiia  in  Aulide,  1498-1499: 

lid  ya  fiarep  S>  Tl£\ao~y'ia, 
MuKTj^aiai'  r'  efxai  depdirvai. 

%  Orestes,  1 246-1 247  ■ 

MuK?;i//8es  Si  (p'lXai, 
to.  Trpwra  Kara  rieAc- 
ayhv  e'Sos  '  Apyeluiv. 

§  Hercules  Furens,  974-944  : 

■jrphs  rds  NlvK-rivas  elp.i  Kd£v<r9at  xPf^>v 
fiox^ous  SiKtAKas  8',  iis  rd  kvkKwituv  (SdBpa 
(po'iviKi  Kav6vi  KOI  tvkois  7i p jxo <t fie v a 
GTptinifi  (riS-ripc/)  avvrpiaiviaaui  it6\iv. 

||  See  Plate  II. 


1876.]  THE  LOWER  CITY.  39 

speaking  of  the  gigantic  Cyclopean  walls,  describing  also 
their  structure  and  mentioning  even  the  Agora  situated 
in  the  Acropolis  (see  Chapter  V.). 

Seneca  says  of  the  walls  of  Mycenae  : 

"  majus  mihi 
Bellum  Mycenis  restat,  ut  cyclopea 
Eversa  manibus  saxa  nostra  concidant. 

and  again — 

"  cerno  Cyclopum  sacras 
Turres,  labore  majus  humano  decus." 

and  in  another  passage  * 

"  Ulixes  ad  Ithaca?  suae  saxa  sic  properat,  quemadmodum 
Agamemnon  ad  Mycenarum  nobiles  muros." 

Over  the  space  of  about  a  square  mile  to  the  west- 
south-west  and  south  of  this  Acropolis,  and  exactly  between 
the  aforesaid  deep  ravines,  extended  the  Lower  City,|  the 
site  of  which  is  distinctly  marked  by  the  remnants  of 
numerous  Cyclopean  substructions  of  houses,  by  a  Cy- 
clopean bridge,  by  five  Treasuries,  and  finally  by  the  frag- 
ments of  beautifully  painted  archaic  pottery  with  which 
the  ground  is  strewn.  The  site  of  the  lower  town  is  tra- 
versed in  its  whole  length  by  a  ridge,  which  to  the  right  falls 
off  gradually  into  the  plain,  and  to  the  left  more  steeply  into 
the  deep  ravine,  which  issues  from  between  the  south  end 
of  the  citadel-cliff  and  the  second  peak  of  Mount  Euboea. 
The  summit  of  this  ridge  has  evidently  been  artificially 
levelled  for  two  purposes;  firstly,  for  the  principal  street  of 
the  town,  which  commenced  at  the  Lions'  Gate  and  ended 
at  the  Cyclopean  bridge,  an  engraving  of  which  forms 
the  vignette  to  this  chapter;^  and  secondly,  for  the  city 
wall,  which  ran  to  the  right  of  the  street  as  far  as  the 
same  bridge,  and  undoubtedly  united  it  with  the  Acropolis 
at  its  north-west  corner,  near  the  Lions'  Gate. 


*  Epistul.  Mor.  66,  26.       f  See  Plan  D. 


%  See  No.  16,  p.  23. 


4° 


TOPOGRAPHY  OF  MYCEN^.  [Chap.  II. 


Another  branch  of  this  wall  extended  all  along  the 
western  bank  of  the  torrent  which  the  bridge  spanned, 
and  doubtless  connected  the  latter  with  the  south-western 
corner  of  the  Acropolis.  Of  both  branches  of  this  wall 
very  numerous  traces  remain,  though  with  difficulty  per- 
ceptible. Thus  a  part  of  the  lower  town,  but  scarcely  one- 
third  of  it,  was  enclosed  by  a  circuit  wall.  This  was  very 
insignificant,  because  its  thickness  on  the  ridge  is  only 
6  feet,  and  it  is  still  less  on  the  bank  of  the  torrent ;  so 
that  it  cannot  have  been  high,  and  it  was  probably  intended 
only  to  impart  greater  strength  to  the  great  Cyclopean 
walls  of  the  Acropolis,  and  to  prevent  the  Lions'  Gate 
leading  directly  into  the  open  country.  After  carefully 
examining  the  remnants  of  this  city  wall  in  numerous 
places,  I  see,  in  consideration  of  its  weakness,  no  reasonable 
ground  to  object  to  regarding  it  as  of  later  date  than  the 
walls  of  the  citadel. 

The  remaining  part  of  the  town  has  been,  as  the  rem- 
nants of  the  house-walls  show,  a  vast  and  well-built  suburb, 
whence,  when  attacked  by  the  enemy  against  whom  their 
own  means  of  defence  were  insufficient,  the  inhabitants 
could  retire  into  the  fortified  part  of  the  city  and  into  the 
citadel.  Some  of  the  buildings  of  this  suburb  are  very 
large,  and  show  a  most  splendid  Cyclopean  masonry.  I 
call  particular  attention  to  the  vast  building  on  the  very 
bank  of  the  deep  glen  in  a  westerly  direction  from  the 
Lions'  Gate,  of  which  all  the  four  walls  are  still  visible.  It 
is  93  feet  long  and  6o  feet  broad,  and  may  have  been  a 
temple.  I  call  attention  also  to  the  foundations  of  a  large 
Cyclopean  building,  perhaps  a  temple,  on  the  crest  of  a 
hill  S.S.W.  of  the  Acropolis  and  north  of  the  village  of 
Charvati.  This  hill  appears  to  have  been  at  the  extremity 
of  the  suburb  in  this  direction,  for  the  Mycenean  pot- 
sherds cease  beyond  it.  I  found  there  two  well-polished 
axes  of  diorite. 

In  two  glens  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  this  hill  are 


1876.J  TREASURIES  IN  THE  SUBURB.  4a 

the  only  two  wells  of  Mycenae.  The  ruins  of  Cyclopean 
buildings  close  to  them,  and  the  Mycenean  potsherds  which 
extend  beyond  them,  can  leave  no  doubt  that  both  wells 
were  within  the  suburb.  Strange  to  say,  Professor  E. 
Curtius  has  thought  the  ancient  quarry  of  Charvati  to  be 
ruins  of  the  city  wall,  and  he  has  therefore  put  this  village 
on  his  map  still  within  the  site  of  Mvcenae  ;  but  this  is  a 
great  mistake  ;  the  city  never  extended  so  far. 

But  not  all  the  Cyclopean  walls  in  the  suburb  are 
house-walls,  for  many  of  them  are  only  intended  for  the 
support  of  the  terraces. 

Much  more  interesting  than  all  the  other  buildings  in 
the  suburb  are  the  "  Treasuries,"  which,  owing  to  their 
great  resemblance  to  ovens,  are  now  called  <f>ovpvoi  by  the 
country  people.  One  of  them  is  just  without  the  line  of 
the  town  wall,  on  die  slope  of  the  hill  near  the  Gate  of  the 
Lions.  The  doorway  is  visible,  but  it  is  nearly  buried  ;  the 
entrance  is  roofed  with  three  large  thick  slabs ;  and  the 
length  of  the  passage  is  18  feet,  its  width  7  ft.  9  in.  Only 
a  small  part  of  the  lower  circular  wall  of  the  dome-shaped 
building  can  now  be  seen,  the  upper  part  having  fallen  in, 
probably  ages  ago.* 

Descending  the  slope  in  a  south-westerly  direction,  we 
come  to  a  smaller  Treasury,  the  entrance  passage  of  which 
is  1 5 ^  feet  long,  and  likewise  roofed  with  three  large 
slabs.  The  width  of  the  door  is  jh  feet ;  part  of  the  lower 
circular  wall  of  the  dome-like  building  is  here  also  above 
ground,  and  shows  at  the  height  of  the  top  of  the  entrance 
a  diameter  of  25  feet  ;  so  that  the  diameter  on  the  ground 
floor  may  be  32  feet.  Turning  thence  to  the  south,  and 
ascending  the  slope,  we  come,  near  the  crest  of  the  ridge, 
to  a  third  Treasury,  of  which  only  the  entrance  passage 
remains.  This  is  20  feet  long,  and  only  5  ft.  3  in.  broad; 
and  is  roofed  by  five  large  slabs. 

*  AH  these  Treasuries  are  indicated  on  Plan  D. 


6 


42 


TOPOGRAPHY  OF  MYCENvE. 


[Chap.  II. 


The  whole  site  of  the  vast  suburb  being  on  slopes,  and 
having  been  but  scantily  inhabited,  on  account  of  its 
vast  extent,  the  accumulation  of  debris  is  everywhere  small, 
and  seldom  exceeds  a  foot  and  a  half  in  depth.  A  much 
greater  accumulation  is  found  only  on  the  terraces  imme- 
diately to  the  west  and  north-west  of  the  Lions'  Gate. 

Though  the  site  of  the  enclosed  city  is  also  on  slopes, 
yet,  as  it  is  but  small  and  must  at  all  times  have  been  more 
densely  inhabited,  the  accumulation  of  dibris  is  in  general 
more  considerable  there,  and  particularly  on  the  western 
and  south-western  side  of  the  Acropolis.  But  at  points 
more  distant  from  the  Acropolis,  and  particularly  on  the 
steeper  slopes  whence  the  remains  of  houses  have  been 
washed  away  by  the  rains,  the  accumulation  does  not  exceed 
the  quantity  general  in  the  suburb.  It  deserves  particular 
attention  that,  except  close  to  the  western  circuit-wall  of 
the  citadel,  the  site  of  the  enclosed  city  shows  far  less  of 
Cyclopean  substructions  or  remnants  of  house-walls  than 
the  suburb  ;  but  immediately  beyond  the  Cyclopean  bridge 
on  the  opposite  bank  of  the  ravine  are  the  ruins  of  two 
vast  buildings  which  may  have  been  forts  and  may  have 
served  for  the  defence  of  the  bridge.  I  may  here  mention 
that  traces  of  the  ancient  Cyclopean  highway  from  Mycenae 
to  Tiryns  are  still  visible  for  some  distance  beyond  the 
bridge. 

On  the  site  of  the  enclosed  city  are  the  two  largest 
Treasuries.  One  of  these  is  the  famous  Treasury  which 
tradition  attributes  to  Atreus.  The  other,  which  is  close  to 
the  Lions'  Gate,  appears  to  have  been  entirely  under  ground, 
and  was  therefore  unknown  in  historical  times  ;  the  upper 
part  of  its  dome  has  fallen  in,  but  I  have  not  been  able  to 
ascertain  whether,  as  some  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  Argolid 
affirm,  this  has  occurred  accidentally,  or  whether,  as  others 
maintain,  it  is  the  sacrilegious  work  of  Veli  Pasha,  the  son 
of  the  notorious  Ali  Pasha,  who  towards  the  end  of  1820 
attempted  to  force  an  entrance  this  way,  but  was  pre- 


1876.]  THE  TREASURY  OF  ATREUS.  43 

vented  by  the  outbreak,  of  the  Greek  revolution  from  pro- 
ceeding much  further. 

The  "  Treasury  of  Atreus,"  which  is  about  400  yards 
further  south,  was  entirely  subterranean,  being  constructed 
under  the  eastern  slope  of  the  ridge  which  traverses  the 
city,  and  towards  the  ravine  of  the  same  torrent  which 
passes  the  south  side  of  the  cliff  of  the  citadel.  On  the 
slope  below  the  Treasury  is  a  large  platform  of  Cyclopean 
masonry,  from  which  the  dromos,  or  approach — 20  ft.  7  in. 
broad,  and  lined  with  walls  of  wrought  stones- — leads  to  the 
doorway  of  the  building,  which  is  8  ft.  6  in.  wide  at  the 
top  and  9  ft.  2  in.  at  the  bottom.  Its  height  is  18  feet;  it 
is  roofed  by  two  enormous  slabs,  beautifully  cut  and  polished, 
of  which  the  inner  one  measures  3  ft.  9  in.  in  thickness,  and 
27^  feet  in  length  on  its  lower  and  29  feet  on  its  upper 
surface;  its  breadth  is  17  feet,  and  it  is  computed  that  it 
weighs  approximately  300,000  English  pounds.* 

The  great  chamber,  which  resembles  a  dome  or  a  vast 
bee-hive,  is  50  feet  high  and  50  feet  in  diameter.  It  is 
built  of  well-wrought  blocks  of  hard  breccia,  placed  in 
regular  layers,  and  joined  with  the  greatest  precision  without 
any  binding  material.  The  stones,  which  on  the  inside  are 
smooth  and  well-fitted,  are  on  the  outside  very  irregular, 
and,  contrary  to  the  general  belief,  they  are  not  immediately 
covered  with  earth,  but  with  enormous  masses  of  stone,  which, 
by  their  ponderous  weight,  keep  all  the  stones  of  the  circular 
layers  of  masonry  in 'their  position.  Thus  the  principle  of 
this  construction  is,  as  Colonel  Leake  justly  remarks,  that 
of  an  arch-shaped  wall  resisting  a  great  superincumbent 
weight,  and  deriving  its  strength  and  coherence  from  the 
weight  itself.  The  same  idea,  which  suggested  the  circular 
shape  to  the  Cyclopean  architect,  induced  him  also  to  curve 
the  sides  vertically,  as  they  derived  from  that  form  an  addi- 
tional power  of  resistance  to  the  lateral  pressure. 


*  See  Plate  IV.,  "Treasury  of  Atreus.' 


44 


TOPOGRAPHY  OF  MYCEN^:. 


[Chap.  II. 


The  blocks  of  the  lower  courses  are  i  ft.  10  in.  high 
and  from  4  to  7  ft.  long ;  but  towards  the  top  of  the  dome 
the  courses  become  gradually  narrower.  The  floor  of  the 
vast  chamber,  which  is  entirely  excavated,  is  the  natural 
rock.  A  number  of  large  stones,  -which  have  remained  in 
the  Treasury,  make  on  travellers  the  erroneous  impression 
that  there  is  still  a  great  deal  of  debris  left. 

From  the  fourth  course  of  stones  upwards  there  are 
visible  in  each  stone  two  bored  holes,  and  in  many  of  these 
can  still  be  seen  remnants  of  bronze  nails  which,  according 
to  SirW.  Gell  ("Argolis"),  contain  88  per  cent,  of  copper 
and  12  per  cent,  of  tin.  These  nails,  of  which  several  have 
been  found  entire,  had  broad  flat  heads,  and  they  can  have 
had  no  other  purpose  than  to  retain  the  bronze  plates, 
with  which  the  whole  interior  was  once  decorated.  We 
know  by  the  testimony  of  the  ancient  authors  that  the 
Greeks  in  a  remote  antiquity  ornamented  their  buildings 
in  this  manner,  because  in  no  other  way  can  we  explain 
the  bronze  houses  and  chambers  which  they  mention.* 


*  Thus  we  read  in  Homer  (Od.  VII.  84-87)  : 

"fliTTe  •yap  TjeAi'ou  afyA?/  irtKtv  7)6  a'c-ATjfTjs, 
Awua  KaS'  v\f/epe<p(S  /xeyaAriTopos  ' AXkivooio, 
\d.\K(OL  [lev  yap  roix01  epripfSar'  tvOa  (col  evda, 
Es  fivx<>v  «'£  ovSov'  7repl  5e  BptyKbs  Kvdvoio. 

"  Like  the  sun  or  the  moon  beam  in  bright  splendour,  so  beamed  the  high  palace  of 
the  magnanimous  Alcinoiis  ;  for  the  brazen  walls  extended  from  the  threshold  of  the 
gate  to  the  innermost  part  of  the  building  ;  their  entablature  was  of  blue  steel." 

Further  the  palaces  of  the  immortal  gods  on  Olympus  must  have 
been  thought  to  be  also  ornamented  with  brazen  plates,  because  Homer 
says  {Iliad,  I.  426)  :  Aios  7totI  ^aA/co/Jares  Sa>,  "  To  the  brazen  house 
of  Jove." 

We  also  read  in  Pausanias  (II.  23)  : 

"AAAa  Se  Zvtiv  'Apyeiois  fleas  a|ia  '  xardyaiov  olKo56jn)fia,  eV  avrb  St  f/v  6  xa^K°vs 
daKafios,  'of  'Anpicrids  irorf  (ppovpav  rrjs  Bvyarpbs  siro'n)<J£V.  TltplKaos  8c  KaBeikeu  avrhv 
Tvpavvij<ras  '  tovtS  tc  oZv  to  oiKo56/j.r]/j.d  iart.  "  In  Argos  there  are  still  other 
remarkable  objects  :  a  subterranean  vault,  over  which  was  the  brazen  chamber  which 
Acrisius  made  for  his  daughter  (Danae's)  prison  ;  it  was  destroyed  under  the 
dominion  of  Perilaiis,  but  the  building  still  exists." 


1876.]  TREASURY  AT  ORCHOMENUS.  45 

The  only  other  example  extant  of  walls  which  had  once 
this  kind  of  decoration  is  presented  by  the  Treasury  of 
Minyas  in  Orchomenus,  which  is  built  of  beautiful  white 
marble,  but  shows  in  other  respects  the  very  greatest 
resemblance  to  the  Treasury  of  Atreus.  It  is  constructed 
on  the  same  principle,  and  appears  to  be  of  the  same  age 
and  to  have  been  erected  for  the  same  purpose.  Each 
stone  of  this  treasury  likewise  shows  two  or  more  holes, 
with  frequent  remnants  of  the  bronze  nails  which  once 
retained  the  brazen  plates  that  decorated  the  inner  walls  of 
the  edifice.*  Thus  it  is  certain  that  in  a  remote  antiquity, 
before  sculpture   or  painting  came   into    use   for  wall 


Further  in  Horace  {Carm.  III.  16)  : 

"  Inclusam  Danacn  turris  ahenea 
Robusta;que  fores  ct  vigilum  canum 
Tristcs  excubix  niunicrant  satis 
Noctumis  al)  adulteris." 

"  A  bronze  tower,  solid  doors,  and  the  severe  watch  of  the  dogs,  had  been  for  the 
imprisoned  Danae  a  sufficiently  strong  protection  against  nocturnal  lovers." 

Another  case  is  the  temple  of  Athena  Chalciaccus  at  Sparta,  where 
King  Pausanias  was  put  to  death.  The  name  of  this  sanctuary  can  of 
course  refer  to  nothing  else  than  to  the  brazen  plates  with  which  the 
walls  were  decorated. 

My  esteemed  friend,  Mr.  Chas.  T.  Newton,  of  the  British  Museum, 
calls  my  attention  to  Colonel  Mure's  article  in  the  Rheinisches  Museum, 
VIII.  272,  in  which  the  author  states  that  General  Gordon  told  him  he 
had  in  his  collection  in  Scotland  fragments  not  only  of  the  bronze  nails, 
but  also  of  the  brazen  plates  of  the  Treasury  of  Atreus.  At  the  same  time 
Colonel  Mure  quotes  the  passage  of  Sophocles  (Antigone,  944-947)  : 

UrAa  KaX  Aavdas  ovpdviov  <pu>s 
oAAa{ui  Sepas  iv  xa\KoStrois  av\a7s  ' 
KpvTTTOfifva  8'  iv  Tujuj8>jp€i  BaKdfiif  KartfruxOy- 

("The  body  also  of  Danae  endured  to  exchange  the  heavenly  light  against  the  dark- 
ness in  the  halls  covered  with  brazen  plates  ;  hidden  in  a  sepulchral  chamber,  she 
was  fettered  "). 

*  Pausanias  (ix.  38)  says  of  this  Treasury:  "The  Treasury  of 
Minyas  is  the  most  wonderful  edifice  in  Greece,  and  is  second  to  no 
work  of  art  abroad ;  it  is  built  in  the  following  manner  :  it  consists 
of  stone  and  has -a  circular  form  ;  the  summit  is  not  very  pointed  ;  it  is 
said  that  the  topmost  stone  holds  together  the  whole  building." 


46 


TOPOGRAPHY  OF  MYCEISLE.  [Chap.  II. 


decoration,  polished  metal  plates  were  employed  to  give 
both  splendour  and  dignity  to  the  houses  of  the  rich. 

In  the  Treasury  of  Atreus,  the  exterior  of  the  door- 
lintel  is  decorated  with  two  parallel  mouldings,  which  are 
also  carried  down  the  jambs  of  the  door.  Above  the  lintel 
numerous  holes  can  be  discerned,  to  which  bronze  orna- 
ments must  have  been  attached.  There  are  more  such 
holes  in  the  fiat  wall  above  the  entrance,  and  all  testify  to 
the  elaborate  exterior  ornamentation  of  the  edifice.  Above 
the  entrance  is  an  equilateral  triangular  niche,  each  side  of 
which  measures  10  feet.  It  is  constructed  like  the  triangular 
niche  over  the  Lions'  Gate  ;  namely,  the  courses  of  masonry 
are  shaped  to  the  form  of  the  niche,  and  it  can  have  had 
no  other  purpose  than  to  bear  up  the  weight  which  would 
otherwise  have  pressed  on  the  lintel. 

On  the  outside,  before  each  door-post,  there  stood  for- 
merly a  semi-column,  having  a  base  and  capital  with 
fantastical  sculptures  in  the  Persepolitan  style.  In  the 
middle  of  the  doorway  can  be  seen  the  holes  for  the  bolts 
and  hinges  of  the  doors,  and  in  the  same  line  are  a  number 
of  round  holes,  i  inches  in  diameter  and  half  an  inch 
deep  ;  in  these  are  two  small  holes  for  bronze  nails,  of  which 
fragments  still  exist,  to  fasten  on  ornaments  of  a  circular 
form. 

To  the  right  of  the  great  circular  hall,  a  doorway,  gh  ft. 
high  and  4  ft.  7  in.  broad,  leads  to  a  second  dark  chamber, 
which  is  nearly  square,  being  27  feet  long  and  broad,  and 
19  feet  high.  It  is  entirely  cut  out  in  the  rock.  Over  the 
door  is  a  triangular  niche,  which  is  likewise  intended  to 
bear  up  the  weight  of  the  masonry  from  the  lintel.  In  this 
chamber  is  an  accumulation  of  rubbish,  from  3^  to  4  feet 
deep,  mostly  consisting  of  the  detritus  of  bats'  dung.  By 
means  of  the  two  trenches,  which  I  dug  three  years  ago  in 
this  chamber,  I  found  in  the  centre  a  circular  depression,  in 
the  form  of  a  large  wash-bowl,  1  ft.  9  in.  deep,  and  3  ft.  4  in. 
in  diameter.    Near  this  I  found  some  large  wrought  cal- 


1876.]  PURPOSE  OF  THE  TREASURY.  47 

careous  stones,  which  seem  to  indicate  that  some  monument 
once  existed  in  this  chamber,  for  otherwise  their  presence 
is  inexplicable. 

This  Treasury  is  the  most  important  and  the  only  com- 
plete monument  of  prehistoric  times  in  Greece,  and  the 
interest  attached  to  it  is  so  much  the  greater,  as  tradition 
assigns  it  to  Atreus,  the  father  of  Agamemnon,  king  of  men. 

Dodwell,*  in  speaking  of  this  treasury  and  the  smaller 
ones,  says: — "There  is  moreover  complete  evidence  that 
these  structures  were  called  drjcravpoL,  and  belong  to  ages 
prior  to  the  origin  of  that  architecture  of  which  the  Doric 
temple  in  Europe  and  the  Ionic  in  Asia  are  the  crowning 
invention.  As  this  latter  architecture  advanced,  temples 
served  for  treasuries,  or,  when  buildings  were  erected  solely 
for  treasuries,  they  had  the  ordinary  forms  of  that  later 
style  of  architecture,  as  we  learn  from  the  description  which 
Pausanias  has  given  of  the  treasuries  at  Olympia  and 
Delphi.!  Nevertheless  subterranean  buildings,  similar  in 
construction  to  the  treasuries  of  the  heroic  ages,  continued 
to  serve  for  containing  oil  or  corn  or  water,  and  when 
attached  to  private  houses  might  often  be  employed  for 
depositing  property  of  any  kind.  These  are  very  numerous 
in  Greece,  but  in  no  instance  are  they  entered  at  the  side. 
The  largest  I  know  of  is  in  the  Acropolis  of  Pharsala. 
But  the  strongest  reason  for  designating  the  constructions 
at  Mycenae  as  treasuries  is  the  evidence  of  Pausanias,J 
unless  it  be  denied  that  he  intended  those  buildings  by  the 
words  vjroycua  0lK0S0p.-qp.aTa,  which  can  hardly  be  alleged, 
as  the  ruins  agree  too  well  with  his  words  to  render  such 
a  supposition  reasonable.  Seventeen  hundred  years  ago, 
therefore,  those  buildings  were  believed  to  be  the  Treasuries 
of  Atreus  and  his  sons.    Nothing  had  then  occurred  to 


*  '  A  Classical  and  Topographical  Tour  through  Greece.' 
t  Paus.  VI.  19,  t  f  X.  ii,  1. 

+  II.  16,  6.  See  the  passage  fully  quoted  in  the  next  chapter,  p.  59. 


48 


TOPOGRAPHY  OF  MYCEN^. 


[Chap.  II. 


interfere  with  the  course  of  the  mythology  or  history  of 
Greece,  as  transmitted  to  the  Greeks  by  their  ancestors ; 
and  although  on  many  occasions  the  reports  received  by 
Pausanias  from  the  i&jyrjTai  may  have  been  inventions  of 
a  date  comparatively  recent,  no  such  suspicion  can  well 
attach  to  the  principal  traditions  of  Mycenae,  which  accord 
with  all  that  has  reached  us  concerning  that  city  in  poetry 
or  prose.  The  extant  edifice  was  the  largest  of  the  trea- 
suries, and  bears  proofs  of  having  been  a  costly  building, 
highly  decorated  at  the  entrance  and  lined  within  with 
metallic  plates.  To  Atreus  himself,  therefore,  the  most 
opulent  and  powerful  of  the  kings  of  the  iroXvxpvcros 
MvKTjvy),  and  not  to  either  of  his  sons,  this  greatest  of  extant 
treasuries  may,  with  a  high  degree  of  probability,  be  attri- 
buted. Agamemnon  dissipated  the  wealth  of  Atreus  in  the 
expedition  to  Asia,  passed  the  greater  part  of  his  reign 
abroad,  and  returned  home  poor  and  powerless,  leaving 
MvKrjvat  to  be,  after  his  time,  no  more  than  a  secondary 
town  of  Argolis.  Nor  is  it  likely,  under  these  circum- 
stances, that  the  sepulchre  of  Agamemnon  was  a  monument 
of  any  great  magnificence.  Pausanias,  who  saw  it,  does 
not  mention  it  as  such,  but  gives  us  clearly  to  understand 
that  the  Treasury  and  the  Gate  of  the  Citadel  were  the 
most  remarkable  antiquities  at  Mycenae." 

I  think  that  nothing  could  better  prove  the  remote 
antiquity  of  this  majestic  underground  Treasury  and  its 
companions,  than  their  very  singularity  and  dissimilarity  to 
other  ancient  buildings  in  Greece  and  Asia  Minor ;  besides, 
the  barbarian  method  of  securing  treasures  by  burying 
them  argues  a  very  early  state  of  society. 

As  a  further  proof  of  these  underground  buildings 
having  been  used  as  treasuries,  I  may  mention  that  My- 
cenae and  Orchomenus  are  the  only  cities  which  can  boast 
of  such  edifices,  and  also  the  only  cities  to  which  Homer 
gives  the  epithet  7ro\uyj3ucro5,  or  to  which  he  attributes 
great  wealth. 


1876.]  EXCAVATION  BY  VELI  PASHA.  49 

The  Professor  of  Medicine  in  Athens,  Johannes  P. 
Pyrlas,  has  kindly  called  my  attention  to  an  article  he  pub- 
lished in  the  Tripolis  newspaper,  "  BeAricuo-is,"  of  the  19th 
November,  1857,  on  tne  ^rst  excavation  of  the  Treasury 
of  Atreus  (commonly  called  in  the  Argolid  the  "  Tomb  of 
Agamemnon "),  of  which  I  give  here  the  translation  with 
all  reserve. 

"The  Tomb  of  Agamemnon  in  Mycenae. 

"In  1808,  as  old  people  relate,  in  the  month  of  April, 
a  Mahomedan  of  Nauplia  presented  himself  before  Veli 
Pasha,  who  was  at  that  time  governor  of  the  Peloponnesus, 
and  told  him  that  he  knew  there  were  several  statues 
hidden  in  the  '  Tomb  of  Agamemnon.'  Veli  Pasha,  who 
was  energetic  and  ambitious,  at  once  began  to  excavate 
the  space  in  front  of  the  tomb  with  forced  labour.  When 
he  had  dug  down  to  a  depth  of  three  fathoms,  the  work- 
men descended  by  means  of  a  ladder  into  the  interior 
of  the  dome,  and  found  there  a  great  many  ancient  tombs, 
and  having  opened  these  they  found  in  them  bones  covered 
with  gold,  which  was  no  doubt  derived  from  the  gold 
embroidered  drapery.  They  found  there  also  other  gold- 
and  silver-  ornaments,  also  precious  stones  in  the  form 
of  those  called  '•antiques'  (gems),  but  without  any  incised 
work.  Outside  of  the  tombs  they  found  about  twenty- 
five  colossal  statues  and  a  marble  table,  all  of  which  Veli 
Pasha  transported  to  the  Lake  of  Lerna  (the  Mills),  and 
having  got  them  washed  and  cleaned  and  wrapped  up  in 
mats,  he  sent  them  on  to  Tripolis,  where  he  sold  them  to 
travellers  and  obtained  for  them  about  80,000  gros  (then 
worth  about  20,000  francs).  Having  gathered  the  bones 
and  all  the  debris  contained  in  the  tombs,  he  got  these 
also  transported  to  Tripolis,  and  entrusted  them  there  to 
the  most  notable  goldsmiths,  D.  Contonicolacos  and  P. 
Scouras,  who,  after  having  cleaned  the  debris  and  scraped 
off  the  gold  from  the  bones,  collected  about  4  okes  (4800 


7 


5o 


TOPOGRAPHY  OF  MYCEN^. 


[Chap.  II. 


grammes)  of  gold  and  silver.  The  stones  in  form  of  an- 
tiques as  well  as  the  bones  were  thrown  away.  I  had  this 
account  from  the  mouth  of  the  two  goldsmiths  when 
they  were  still  alive,  and  from  my  own  father,  who  saw 
the  statues  at  the  Mills." 

Now  not  to  speak  of  the  improbability  that  statues  of 
the  heroic  age  should  have  been  found,  the  above  account 
is  in  no  way  confirmed  by  the  old  men  of  Charvati,  the 
village  nearest  to  the  site  of  Mycenae,  nor  by  those  of  the 
other  villages  of  the  plain  of  Argos,  all  of  whom  agree 
that  the  excavation  took  place  in  1810,  and  that  the  sole 
objects  found  in  the  Treasury  were  some  half-columns 
and  friezes,  a  marble  table,  and  a  long  bronze  chain  sus- 
pended from  the  top  of  the  dome,  at  the  end  of  which  was 
hanging  a  bronze  candelabrum.*  I  have  heard  this  account 
repeated  so  many  hundred  times  by  the  old  people  of  the 
Argolid  that  I  believe  it  to  be  perfectly  correct,  except,  of 
course,  as  to  the  candelabrum ;  because,  not  to  speak  of 
candles,  even  lamps  were  totally  unknown  to  Homer,  and 
I  never  found  them  either  at  Troy,  or  at  Tiryns  or 
Mycenae,  in  the  strata  of  prehistoric  house  remains.  Nay,, 
lamps  appear  not  to  have  existed  at  Tiryns  or  Mycenae 
before  their  capture  by  the  Argives  in  468  b.c,  because  I 
only  found  them  in  the  latter  place  in  the  ddbris  of  the 
more  modern  city,  and  none  were  found  at  Tiryns.  Thus 
the  object  which  the  villagers  had  regarded  as  a  candela- 
brum must  necessarily  have  been  something  else. 

According  to  Professor  E.  Curtius,j"  the  following  frag- 
ments of  ancient  ornaments  were  found  before  the  entrance 
of  the  Treasury  :- — "  The  basis  of  a  semi-column  of  greenish 
marble  with  wreathed  stripes  in  relief ;  further,  the  fragment 
of  a  half  round  column  with  a  zigzag  decoration ;  stone 


*  The  reader  is  warned  not  to  confound  this  with  Veli  Pasha's 
attempt  to  rifle  the  other  Treasury,  mentioned  on  p.  42. 
t  '  Peloponnes,'  II.  p.  408. 


1876.]  OBJECTS  FOUND  AT  THE  ENTRANCE.  51 

tables,  the  one  of  greenish,  the  other  of  lustrous  red  colour, 
a  third  of  white  marble,  all  with  a  relief  ornamentation  in 
the  form  of  muscles,  fans  or  spiral  lines,  which  are  dis- 
tinguished by  sharply  and  neatly  chiselled  outlines ;  finally, 
a  red  marble  slab,  which  Gell  found  in  a  neighbouring 
chapel." 


No.  23a.    A  Tcrra-cotta  Vase.    (3  M.)    Actual  size. 


No.  24.    The  first  of  the  Tombstones  found  above  the  Sepulchres  in  the  Acropolis.    Size  8  : 100. 


CHAPTER  III. 
History  of  Mycenae  and  the  Family  of  Pelops. 
the  sepulchres  of  agamemnon  and  his  companions. 

Traditional  foundation  of  Mycenae  by  Perseus  —  His  dynasty  succeeded 
by  the  Pelopids  —  The  legend  of  their  crimes  unknown  to  Homer 
and  Hesiod  —  The  Homeric  story  of  Agamemnon's  murder  by  yEgis- 
thus  and  Clytemnestra,  avenged  by  Orestes  —  Cycle  of  crimes 
devised  by  the  later  bards  —  Dominion  of  Agamemnon  —  End  of 
the  dynasty  at  Mycenae  with  yEgisthus  —  Orestes  and  his  sons  — 
The  Dorian  invasion  —  Part  taken  by  Mycenae  in  the  Persian  wars 
—  The  Argives  besiege  and  take  Mycenae • — -The  walls  of  the  citadel 
preserved  from  religious  reverence  ■ —  Homeric  epithets  of  Mycenae 
—  Its  "abundance  of  gold"  confirmed  by  Thucydides  —  The  Trea- 
suries of  the  Pelopids  mentioned  by  Pausanias  —  Treasury  at  the 


Ch.  III.  1876.]     THE  PERSEID/E  AND  ATREIDyE. 


53 


Heraeum,  near  Mycenae  —  Probable  existence  of  another  Treasury  at 
Mycenae. 

The  Royal  Sepulchres  described  by  Pausanias  —  General  misinterpreta- 
tion of  the  passage  —  Experimental  shafts  sunk  there  in  February 
1874  —  Excavations  begun,  August  7,  1876  —  Porter's  lodge  at  the 
Lions'  Gate  —  The  later  habitation  of  the  city  after  468  B.C. — 
No  coins  of  Mycenae  known  —  Remains  below  this  first  stratum 
—  Painted  archaic  vases,  like  those  at  Tiryns  —  The  vases  almost 
all  made  on  the  potter's  wheel  —  Female  idols  and  cows  of  terra- 
cotta—  Other  idols  and  animals  —  Iron  knives  and  curious  keys 
of  a  later  period  —  Bronze  knives  and  arrowheads  —  Stone  im- 
plements and  other  objects  —  A  little  gold  and  much  lead  found  — 
Fragments  of  a  lyre  and  flute  —  Plates  of  ornamented  terra-cotta 
for  lining  walls  —  Cyclopean  house-walls  —  A  remarkable  water- 
conduit —  Twelve  tomblike  reservoirs  —  Two  tombstones  with  bas- 
reliefs,  probably  of  the  same  epoch  as  that  over  the  Lions'  Gate. 

Mycenae,  August  19,  1876. 
Tradition  attributes  the  foundation  of  Mycenae  to 
Perseus,  son  of  Danae  and  Jove,  who  had  by  Andromeda 
a  son  Sthenelus,  to  whom  lie  left  the  kingdom.  Sthenelus 
married  Nicippe,  the  daughter  of  Pelops,  by  whom  he 
had  a  son  Eurystheus,  who  succeeded  him.  The  dynasty 
of  Perseus  ended  with  Eurystheus,  who  was  succeeded  by 
his  uncle  Atreus,  the  son  of  Pelops.  The  latter  left  the 
kingdom  to  his  brother  Thyestes,  who  left  it  to  his 
nephew  Agamemnon,  son  of  Atreus. 

According  to  tradition,  Atreus  and  his  brother  Thyestes 
contended  for  the  dominion  of  Mycenae.  Atreus  was 
married  to  Aerope,  who  was  seduced  by  his  brother  Thy- 
estes. Atreus,  in  revengeful  fury  at  this,  butchered  the 
two  (or  three)  sons  of  Thyestes,  and  served  them  up  at  a 
banquet  to  their  father.  When  Thyestes  learnt  the  fact, 
in  his  horror  he  overturned  the  table,  vomited  the  dreadful 
meal,  and  ran  off,  cursing  the  whole  race  of  the  Pelopids.* 
Aerope  is  thrown  into  the  sea.  Thyestes  consults  the 
oracle  how  he  can  revenge  himself  on  his  brother,  and 


*  Horace,  Epod.  V.  86. 


54 


HISTORY  OF  MYCENtE. 


[Chap.  III. 


gets  the  answer  that,  if  he  begets  a  son  by  his  own 
daughter,  Pelopia,  this  son  will  avenge  him.  To  avoid 
the  incest,  he  intended  to  leave  for  Lydia ;  but  when  he  was 
sacrificing  in  the  night  to  Athena  at  Sicyon,  his  daughter 
joined  him  there,  and  unwittingly  he  begat  by  her  the 
future  avenger,  iEgisthus,  who,  exposed  by  his  mother 
immediately  after  his  birth,  was  found  by  shepherds,  and 
was  nursed  by  a  goat,  whence  his  name.*  He  was  after- 
wards sought  for  by  Atreus,  who  brought  him  up  as  his 
son,  for  Atreus  had  married  Pelopia  in  the  very  beginning 
of  her  pregnancy  and  thought  the  child  belonged  to  him. 
But  ^Egisthus  killed  Atreus  when  he  was  sacrificing  on  the 
seashore,  because  Atreus,  thinking  him  to  be  his  own  son, 
had  ordered  him  to  kill  his  brother  Thyestes.  ^Egisthus 
then,  with  Thyestes,  took  possession  of  the  realm. 

But  Homer  knows  nothing  at  all  of  the  bloody  brawl 
in  the  house  of  the  Pelopids,  for  according  to  him  |  Jove 
sent  the  royal  sceptre  to  Pelops,  by  Hermes,  as  a  symbol 
of  dominion ;  Pelops  gave  it  to  Atreus,  who  dying  left 
it  to  Thyestes ;  Thyestes  left  it  to  Agamemnon,  and  there 
is  not  even  an  allusion  to  dispute  or  violence.  Hesiod 
speaks  of  the  proverbial  wealth  and  the  royal  majesty  of 
the  Atridae,  but  he  knows  nothing  of  their  crimes.  Homer 
knows  only  the  outrage  of  ^Egisthus  and  Clytemnestra. 
During  Agamemnon's  absence  in  Troy,  yEgisthus  had 
succeeded  in  seducing  Clytemnestra,  and  he  was  insolent 
enough  to  make  thank-offerings  to  the  gods  for  having 
succeeded.^  To  avoid-  being  taken  unawares  by  Aga- 
memnon, he  stationed  a  watchman  on  the  shore,  and 
when  at  length  he  heard  of  the  king's  arrival,  he  invited 
him  to  a  meal  and,  in  concert  with  Clytemnestra,  killed 
him  at  table.§    T^Lgisthus  then  reigned  seven  years  over 

*  From  alt  (root  aiy),  a  goat.  t  //.  II.  101. 

%  Homer,  Od.  III.  263-275. 

§  Od.  IV.  524-535;  compare  I.  35;  III.  234;  IV.  91;  IX. 
387  ;  XXIV  20,  97. 


1876.]  AGAMEMNON'S  DOMINION.  55 

Mycerun,  until  in  the  eighth,  as  the  gods  had  foretold  to 
him,*  Orestes  appeared  and  avenged  his  father  by  killing 
iEgisthus  and  his  own  mother  Clytemnestra.f 

The  later  Homeric  bards,  who  were  followed  by  the 
tragic  poets,  seem  to  have  formed  the  myths  of  the  horrid 
deeds  of  Atreus  and  Thyestes  by  carrying  back  the  outrages 
in  the  house  of  Agamemnon  into  the  former  generation ; 
and,  by  the  help  of  other  traditions,  and  particularly  from 
the  history  of  the  kings  of  Thebes,  they  devised  a  con- 
catenation of  crimes  and  mischief,  which  had  its  first  origin 
in  the  murder  of  Myrtilus  or  in  that  of  Chrysippus.J 

It  appears  from  IIomer§  that  Agamemnon  had 
brought  under  his  sceptre  nearly  all  the  Peloponnesus.  But 
according  to  another  passage  ||  it  would  appear  that  he 
reigned  only  over  its  whole  northern  part.  The  dynasty  of 
the  Pelopids  appears  to  have  ceased  in  Mycenae  with  the 
death  of  iEgisthus,  for  tradition  says  that  Agamemnon's 
son  Orestes  reigned  in  Arcadia  and  Sparta,  but  not  that 
he  succeeded  his  father.  According  to  Strabo,^[  he  died 
in  Arcadia.  Pausanias  **  states  that  his  tomb  was  at  first 
on  the  roadside  between  Sparta  and  Tegea ;  at  a  later  time 
his  bones  were  buried  in  Sparta.ff  Neither  of  the  two  sons 
of  Orestes,  Penthilus  and  Tisamenus,  seems  to  have  reigned 
at  Mycenae.  Strabo^|  says  that  they  remained  in  the 
v^olian  colonies  in  Asia  Minor,  which  had  been  founded 
by  their  father.  According  to  Pausanias,§§  the  invasion  of 
the  Dorians  had  already  occurred  in  the  time  of  Orestes ; 
according  to  Thucydides,||||  it  took  place  eighty  years  after 
the  Trojan  war. 

Pausanias  seems  probably  to  be  in  the  right,  because 


*  Od.  I.  36.  IT  XIII.  p.  582. 

+  Od.  III.  305-310.  **  III.  3,  6. 

%  Welcker,  Gr.  Trag.  I.  s.  358.  tt  Paus.  III.  11,  10. 

§  //.  IX.  149-154-  ++  IX-  P-  401. 

||  //.  II.  569.  §§  VIII.  5,  1. 

Illl  1. 


56 


HISTORY  OF  MYCEN.E.  [Chap.  III. 


only  a  fearful  political  revolution  and  catastrophe  can  have 
prevented  Orestes  from  becoming  king  in  Mycenae,  which 
was  the  richest  and  most  powerful  state  of  Greece,  and 
which  belonged  to  him  as  only  son  to  the  glorious  and 
universally  lamented  Agamemnon. 

Strabo*  confirms  the  statement  that  the  decline  of 
Mycenae  began  with  the  death  of  Agamemnon  and  particu- 
larly from  the  return  of  the  Heracleidae.  But,  though  the 
city  had  decayed  in  power  and  population  and  had  sunk  to 
the  rank  of  a  small  provincial  town,  yet  it  kept  up  a  certain 
independence ;  and,  inspired  by  the  reminiscences  of  its 
glorious  past,  it  equipped  eighty  men  as  its  contingent  at 
Thermopylae,!  and  a  year  later,  in  conjunction  with  Tiryns, 
it  sent  400  men  to  Platasae.J  The  name  of  Mycenas  was 
engraved,  together  with  those  of  the  other  cities  which  had 
participated  in  this  glorious  campaign,  on  the  brazen 
column  representing  three  serpents  sustaining  a  golden 
tripod,  which  the  Spartans  dedicated  to  the  Delphian  Apollo 
as  a  tithe  of  the  booty  taken  from  the  Persians.  This 
brazen  column  stands  now  on  the  old  hippodrome  (the 
present  Maidan)  in  Constantinople,  whither  it  was  pro- 
bably brought  by  Constantine  the  Great.  The  Argives, 
who  had  remained  neutral,  envied  the  Myceneans  the 
honour  of  having  participated  in  these  battles,  and  they 
feared  besides,  considering  the  city's  ancient  glory,  that 
Mycenae  might  usurp  the  dominion  of  the  whole  Argolid. 

For  these  reasons,  in  league  with  the  Cleoneans  and 
the  Tegeatans,  they  besieged  Mycena?,  in  Ol.  LXXVIII. 
(468  b.c).  The  powerful  walls  of  the  citadel,  behind 
which  the  inhabitants  had  retired,  withstood  all  assaults  of 
the  enemy,  but  at  last  the  Myceneans  were  forced  to  sur- 
render for  want  of  food.  It  appears  that,  in  consideration 
of  the  past  glory  of  the  city,  the  victors  treated  the  Myce- 
neans with  clemency,  for  they  allowed  them  to  emigrate 


*  VIII.  p.  372. 


t  Herod.  VII.  202. 


+  Herod.  IX.  28. 


1876.]  HOMERIC  EPITHETS  OF  MYCENAE.  57 

whither  they  pleased ;  and  they  settled  partly  at  Cleonae, 
partly  in  Cerynia  in  Achaea,  but  principally  in  Macedonia.* 
But  this  account  is  not  quite  confirmed  by  Diodorus 
Siculus,f  who  says  that  on  the  surrender  of  Mycenae  the 
Argives  enslaved  all  the  inhabitants.  If  this  is  correct,  then 
it  is  to  be  supposed  that  the  Argives  forced  the  Myceneans 
to  settle  at  Argos,  because  it  was  very  material  to  them 
at  that  time  to  increase  the  population  of  their  city.  At 
all  events,  as  Dodwell  says,  a  religious  fear  seems  to  have 
prevented  the  Argives  from  destroying  the  huge  Cyclopean 
walls  of  the  citadels  of  Mycenae  and  Tiryns,  because  these 
were  considered  as  sacred  enclosures,  and  were  revered  as 
sanctuaries  of  Hera,  who  was  worshipped  with  equal  adora- 
tion by  all  the  inhabitants  of  the  Argolid.  The  Argives 
therefore  contented  themselves  with  dismantling  only  a  very 
small  part  of  the  walls  of  the  citadel,  whilst  they  razed 
those  of  the  lower  city  completely  to  the  ground. 

Homer  gives  to  Mycenae  the  epithets  of  the  "well- 
built  city,"  I'  "  with  broad  streets,"  §  and  "  rich  in  gold."  || 
The  second  of  these  epithets  can  only  apply  to  the  wide 
street  which  led  from  the  Lions'  Gate,  along  the  ridge, 
through  the  enclosed  town,  to  the  bridge  over  the  torrent  of 
the  ravine  ;  for  all  the  remaining  part  of  the  town  as  well  as 
the  suburb  being  on  slopes,  the  other  streets  must  have 
been  more  or  less  steep,  and  cannot  have  been  alluded  to 
by  the  epithet  evpvdyvia.  Regarding  the  third  epithet 
Trokvxpvo-os,  we  have  the  great  authority  of  Thucydides  ^| 
that  Mycenae  had  immense  wealth  under  the  dominion  of 
the  Pelopids,  for  he  says :  "  Pelops,  having  brought  from 
Asia  large  treasures  to  the  indigent  people  (of  the  penin- 
sula), soon  acquired  great  power,  and,  though  a  foreigner, 


*  Paus.  VII.  25,  6.  t  XI.  65. 

%  II.  II.  569  :  iVKTifievov  -mokitvpav. 
§  //.  IV.  52  :  tlpvayvia  MvKr/vr]. 

||  //.  VII.  180:  Od.  III.  305  :  iroXvxpvaoio  Mvkt/^s. 
IT  I.  9- 


8 


58 


HISTORY  OF  MYCEN^l. 


[Chap.  III. 


he  nevertheless  gave  his  name  to  the  country,  and  his  de- 
scendants (the  Pelopids,  Atreus  and  Agamemnon)  became 
still  much  more  powerful."  Thucydides  adds  that  it  appears 
to  him  "  that  the  other  Greeks  joined  Agamemnon's 
expedition  to  Troy  less  out  of  good  will  than  from  fear 
of  his  power ;  for  not  only  did  he  himself  bring  the  greatest 
contingent  of  ships,  but  he  also  gave  ships  to  the  Arcadians, 
as  Homer  says,  if  he  can  be  considered  a  trustworthy  wit- 
ness. But  in  speaking  of  Agamemnon's  inheritance  of  the 
sceptre,  he  says  that  he  (Agamemnon)  reigned  over  many 
islands  and  over  the  whole  Argolid  (iroWfjo-iv  vqcrotcri  kclI 
"Apye'C  ttclvtI  avacrcreiv) ;  but  as  he  lived  on  the  continent,  he 
could  not  have  reigned  over  islands,  except  those  in  the 
immediate  neighbourhood  (but  of  these  there  could  not  be 
many)  if  he  had  not  had  a  fleet.  From  this  expedition  (to 
Troy)  we  must  therefore  forfn  an  opinion  of  the  nature  of 
those  which  preceded  it.  If  Mycenae  was  small,  and  if 
several  other  cities  of  that  age  do  not  appear  to  us  now  to 
be  considerable,  we  could  not  cite  this  as  a  valid  reason 
to  doubt  that  the  expedition  was  as  great  as  the  poets 
have  represented  it  and  as  tradition  confirms  it  to  have 
been." 

The  port  of  Mycenae  was  not  Nauplia,  but  E'iones 
(Kiova),  which  was  likewise  situated  on  the  Gulf  of  Argos, 
to  the  south-east  of  Nauplia.  It  seems  to  have  been  de- 
stroyed as  far  back  as  the  Dorian  invasion.  Strabo  *  men- 
tions that  it  was  entirely  destroyed,  and  was  no  longer  a 
port  in  his  time.  According  to  Homer,f  'Moves  took  part 
in  the  Trojan  war,  and  belonged  to  Diomedcs,  the  king  of 
Argos  and  vassal  of  Agamemnon. 

Of  the  power  and  riches  of  the  Pelopids  we  see 
the  most  substantial  and  unmistakable  proofs  in  the  many 
vast  subterranean  buildings  which  Pausanias,J  following 
the  tradition,  calls  their  Treasuries,  and  which  cannot  have 


*  VIII.  p.  373. 


t  //.  II.  561. 


t  II.  16,  6. 


1876.]        PAUSANIAS  ON  THE  ROYAL  SEPULCHRES.  59 

served  for  any  other  purpose  than  to  hoard  up  the  royal 
wealth. 

I  must  here  mention  that,  besides  the  Treasuries  before 
described  in  Mycenae  proper  and  in  its  suburb,  there  is  still 
another  Treasury  close  to  the  great  Heraeum,  which  is,  ac- 
cording to  Strabo,*  10  stadia,  but  according  to  Pausanias,f 
15  stadia  from  Mycenae.  Besides,  the  conformation  of  the 
slopes  between  the  Treasury  of  Atreus  and  the  Lions'  Gate 
leads  me  to  think  that  there  is  still  one  more  large  treasury 
hidden  about  halfway  between  these  two  points. 

Pausanias  J  writes :  "  Amongst  other  remains  of  the 
wall  is  the  gate,  on  which  stand  lions.  They  (the  walls  and 
the  gate)  are  said  to  be  the  work  of  the  Cyclopes,  who  built 
the  wall  for  Proteus  at  Tiryns.  In  the  ruins  of  Mycenae  is 
the  fountain  called  Perseia  and  the  subterranean  buildings  of 
Atreus  and  his  children,  in  which  they  stored  their  treasures. 
There  is  the  sepulchre  of  Atreus,  and  the  tombs  of  the 
companions  of  Agamemnon,  who  on  their  return  from 
Ilium  were  killed  at  a  banquet  by  vEgisthus.  The  identity 
of  the  tomb  of  Cassandra  is  called  in  question  by  the  Lace- 
daemonians of  Amyclac.  There  is  the  tomb  of  Agamemnon 
and  that  of  his  charioteer  Eurymedon,  and  of  Electra. 
Teledamus  and  Pclops  were  buried  in  the  same  sepulchre, 
for  it  is  said  that  Cassandra  bore  these  twins,  and  that,  while 
as  yet  infants,  they  were  slaughtered  by  iEgisthus  together 


*  VIII.  p.  368.  II  11.  17. 

+  II.  16,  6  :  Affireral  Si  5pws  ?t<  ko!  SUo  toD  irtpifi6\ov  Ka\  rj  iru\ij '  \(ovres 
Si  i<t>f<TTTiKa<nv  atirfi  '•  kvkKwitwv  Si  zeal  raura  tpya  elvat  \iyovaiv,  oi  npohc,!  to  TetXos 
iiroir\aav  iv  TlpvvOi.  y\.vnr\vi)v  Si  iv  to?s  iptixtots  xpyvri  ri  ia-ri  xaKovnivi)  TlepVtla  <co! 
'Arpt'ws  koI  twv  7rai'5a>y  Myata  oiko8o/xV«t«.  «"0a  oi  9n<ravpoi  <r<pitrt  twv  xpn^Twv 
1,aav.  Td<pos  Si  tart  piv  'Arpiats  ■  «M  Si  <cal  Haovs  <rvv  'Ayap.ip.vovi.  iiruvriKOVTas  <•'{ 
'Wiov  SetTri/iVos  KaT«t>6v(VO-(V  Atyio-eos.  ToO  piv  5i)  K.a<radvSpas  fwilpMTOS  aM<p«r0>J- 
rodo-i  AaKtSai/xoviuv  oi  irepl  'ApixXas  obcovfTM  1  'inpov  Si  iariv  '  Aya^vovos,  to  Si 
EbpvpiSovTos  too  T)vi6xov  koX  T(\(Sdfxov  to  avrb  «a!  Tli\oiros,  roirovs  yap  rtKuv 
SiSujUour  Kao-ffdvSpav  (pafft,  vriviovs  Si  tri  6vras  <hriKaTfV<pa£<?  roTs  yovtvaiv  AI-fio-Bos, 
koI  'HKtKTpas  ■  Uv\dSr,  yap  oovyKWtv  'OpiaTov  Sivros.  'EWdviKos  5i  /col  TaS(  typatyc, 
MeoWa  (tal  Zrpfytov  ywiffOtU  UvKdSr,  Traces  ff  'HAeVrpas.  KKuTaifivrio-Tpa  Si  ird<pr) 
koI  Aiyio-Qos  o\iyov  airwripa,  toO  rdXovs  ivrbs  Si  a*t)tt<i9n(rav,  *v9a  'Aya/xiuvwv  re 
avrbs  (Kfiro  Kal  oi  aiiv  iictivy  <povev6(VT(S. 


6o 


HISTORY  OF  MYCE1SLE. 


[Chap.  III. 


with  their  parents.  Hellanicus  (495-411  b.c.)  writes  that 
Pylades,  who  was  married  to  Electra  with  the  consent  of 
Orestes,  had  by  her  two  sons,  Medon  and  Strophius. 
Clytemnestra  and  ^Egisthus  were  buried  at  a  little  distance 
from  the  wall,  because  they  were  thought  unworthy  to 
have  their  tombs  inside  of  it,  where  Agamemnon  reposed 
and  those  who  were  killed  together  with  him." 

Strange  to  say,  Colonel  Leake,*  Dodwell,f  Prokesch,J 
Ernest  Curtius,^  and  all  others  who  have  written  on  the 
Peloponnesus,  have  interpreted  this  passage  of  Pausanias 
erroneously ;  for  they  thought  that,  in  speaking  of  the  wall, 
he  meant  the  wall  of  the  city,  and  not  the  great  wall  of  the 
Acropolis ;  and  they  therefore  understood  that  he  fixed  the 
site  of  the  five  sepulchres  in  the  lower  city,  and  the  site  of 
the  tombs  of  Clytemnestra  and  iEgisthus  outside  of  it. 
But  that  such  was  not  his  intention,  and  that  he  had  solely 
in  view  the  walls  of  the  citadel,  he  shows  by  saying  that  in  the 
wall  is  the  Lions'  Gate.  It  is  true  that  he  afterwards  speaks 
of  the  ruins  of  Mycenae,  in  which  he  saw  the  fountain 
Perseia  and  the  treasuries  of  Atreus  and  his  sons,  by  which 
latter  he  can  only  mean  the  large  treasury  described  above, 
which  is  indeed  in  the  lower  city,  and  perhaps  some  of  the 
smaller  treasuries  in  the  suburb.  But  as  he  again  says 
further  on  that  the  graves  of  Clytemnestra  and  ^Egisthus 
are  at  a  little  distance  outside  the  wall,  because  they  were 
thought  unworthy  to  be  buried  inside  of  it,  where  Aga- 
memnon and  his  companions  reposed,  there  cannot  be  any 
doubt  that  he  had  solely  in  view  the  huge  Cyclopean  walls 
of  the  citadel.  Besides,  Pausanias  could  only  speak  of  such 
wall's  as  he  saw,  and  not  of  those  which  he  did  not  see.  He 
saw  the  huge  walls  of  the  citadel,  because  they  were  at  his 


*  '  Peloponnesiaca,'  vol.  ii.  p.  365. 

+  '  A  Classical  and  Topographical  Tour  through  Greece,'  vol.  ii. 
p.  236. 

%  '  Denkwiirdigkeiten  und  Erinnerungen,'  vol.  ii.  p.  276. 
§  '  Peloponnes,' vol.  ii.  pp.  41 1-4 13. 


1876.]  MEANING  OF  PAUSANIAS.  6l 

time  exactly  as  they  are  now  ;  but  he  could  not  see  the 
wall  of  the  lower  city,  because  it  had  been  originally  only 
very  thin,  and  it  had  been  demolished  638  years  before  his 
time ;  nor  was  he  an  archaeologist,  to  search  for  its  traces 
or  still  less  to  make  excavations  to  find  them. 

The  site  of  Mycenae  presented  in  the  time  of  Pausanias 
just  the  same  bare  wilderness  of  rugged  pasture  land,  inter- 
spersed with  slopes  and  precipitous  cliffs,  as  at  the  present 
day.  No  change  can  have  taken  place  there,  and  the 
remnants  of  the  lower  city  wall  were  undoubtedly  in  his 
time  as  trifling  as  they  are  now.  Nay,  such  is  their  insig- 
nificance, that  only  the  traces  of  the  wall  on  the  ridge 
seem  to  have  been  remarked  by  travellers,  and  nobody 
before  me  appears  to  have  ever  noticed  the  traces  of 
the  wall  on  the  opposite  side,  which  runs  along  the  bank 
of  the  ravine  torrent. 

For  these  decisive  reasons,  I  have  always  interpreted 
the  famous  passage  in  Pausanias  in  the  sense  that  the  five 
tombs  were  in  the  Acropolis.  I  proved  this  in  my  work 
'  Ithaque,  le  Peloponnese  et  Troie,'  which  I  published 
in  the  beginning  of  1869,  page  97.  In  February,  1874, 
therefore,  I  sank  there  thirty-four  shafts  in  different  places,  in 
order  to  sound  the  ground  and  to  find  out  the  place  where  I 
should  have  to  dig  for  them.  The  six  shafts  which  I  sank 
on  the  first  western  and  south-western  terrace  gave  very 
encouraging  results,  and  particularly  the  two  which  I  dug 
within  100  yards  south  of  the  Lions' Gate  ;  for  not  only  did 
I  strike  two  Cyclopean  house-walls,  but  I  also  found  an 
unsculptured  slab  resembling  a  tombstone,  and  a  number 
of  female  idols  and  small  cows  of  terra-cotta.  I  therefore 
resolved  at  once  on  making  extensive  excavations  at  this 
spot,  but  I  was  prevented  by  various  circumstances  which 
I  need  not  explain  here,  and  it  is  only  now  that  I  have 
found  it  possible  to  carry  out  my  plan. 

I  began  the  great  work  on  the  7th  August,  1876,  with 


62 


EXCAVATIONS  AT  MYCEN^.  [Chap.  III. 


sixty-three  workmen,  whom  I  divided  into  three  parties.  I 
put  twelve  men  at  the  Lions'  Gate,  to  open  the  passage 
into  the  Acropolis ;  I  set  forty-three  to  dig,  at  a  distance 
of  40  feet  from  that  gate,  a  trench  113  feet  long  and  113 
feet  broad ;  and  the  remaining  eight  men  I  ordered  to  dig  a 
trench  on  the  south  side  of  the  Treasury  in  the  lower  city, 
near  the  Lions'  Gate,  in  search  of  the  entrance.  But  the 
soil  at  the  Treasury  was  as  hard  as  stone,  and  so  full  of 
large  blocks,  that  it  took  me  two  weeks  to  dig  only  as  far 
down  as  the  upper  part  of  the  open  triangular  space  above 
the  door,  from  which  I  could  calculate  that  the  threshold 
would  be  33  feet  lower. 

I  had  also  very  hard  work  at  the  Lions'  Gate,  owing  to 
the  huge  blocks  by  which  the  passage  was  obstructed,  and 
which  seem  to  have  been  hurled  from  the  adjoining  walls 
at  the  assailants,  when  the  Acropolis  was  captured  by  the 
Argives  in  468  B.C.  The  obstruction  of  the  entrance  must 
date  from  that  time,  for  the  debris  in  which  the  boulders 
are  imbedded  has  not  been  formed  by  a  series  of  successive 
habitations,  but  it  has  evidently  been  gradually  washed 
down  by  the  rain  water  from  the  upper  terraces. 

Immediately  to  the  left,  on  entering  the  gate,  I  brought 
to  light  a  small  chamber,  undoubtedly  the  ancient  door- 
keeper's habitation,  the  ceiling  of  which  is  formed  by 
one  huge  slab.  The  chamber  is  only  \\  feet  high,  and  it 
would  not  be  to  the  taste  of  our  present  doorkeepers ;  but 
in  the  heroic  age  comfort  was  unknown,  particularly  to 
slaves,  and  being  unknown  it  was  unmissed. 

No  ancient  writer  mentions  the  fact  that  Mycenae  was 
reinhabited  after  its  capture  by  the  Argives  and  the  expul- 
sion of  its  inhabitants.  On  the  contrary,  Diodorus  Siculus, 
who  lived  at  the  time  of  Julius  Cassar  and  Augustus,  after 
having  described  the  tragic  fate  of  Mycenae,  adds :  "  This 
city,  which  was  in  ancient  times  blessed  with  wealth  and 
power,  which  produced  such  great  men  and  accomplished 


1876.]  REOCCUPATION  OF  MYCEN^.  63 

such  important  actions,  was  thus  destroyed  and  remained 
uninhabited  till  the  present  time?  *  That  Mycenae  was 
uninhabited  at  the  time  of  Strabo  (that  is,  under  Augustus), 
we  must  conclude  from  his  remark,  "  So  that  of  the  city  of 
the  Myceneans  not  even  a  vestige  can  now  be  found?  \  It 
was  certainly  also  uninhabited  at  the  time  of  Pausanias 
(a.d.  170),  who  describes  its  ruins. 

But  I  have  brought  to  light  most  positive  proofs  that 
it  had  been  again  inhabited,  and  that  the  new  town  must 
have  existed  for  a  long  period,  probably  for  more  than  two 
centuries ;  because  there  is  at  the  surface  of  the  Acropolis 
a  layer  of  debris  of  the  Hellenic  time,  which  goes  to  an 
average  depth  of  three  feet.  Though  I  cannot  fix  by  the 
fragments  of  pottery  the  precise  period  of  the  reoccupation  of 
the  town,  yet  as  painted  pottery  of  the  best  Hellenic  period 
is  missing,  and  as  the  numerous  terra-cotta  figures  and 
fluted  vases  which  I  find  are  evidently  of  the  Macedonian 
age  down  to  the  second  century  b.c,  I  presume  that  the 
new  colony  may  have  been  founded  in  the  beginning  of  the 
fourth,  and  may  have  been  abandoned  in  the  beginning  of 
the  second  century  b.c.  These  two  limits  seem  to  be 
confirmed  by  the  bronze  medals  found,  nearly  all  of  which 
show  on  one  side  a  Ilera  head  with  a  crown,  on  the  other  a 
column,  having  to  its  left  a  helmet  and  to  its  right  a  0  . 
This  character  is  generally  thought  to  be  a  0,  and  thus 
the  coin  is  attributed  to  the  Argolic  city  of  Thyrea.  But, 
in  the  opinion  of  my  worthy  friends  A.  Postolaccas  and  P. 
Lampros,  which  I  accept,  the  B  is  the  spiritus  aspcr,  and 
belongs  to  the  still  unknown  word  which  records  the  value 
of  the  coin.  This  coin  belongs  to  the  city  of  Argos,  and 
is  of  the  Macedonian  age,  which  makes  it  utterly  impossible 
that  the  sign  should  be  a  e,  the  B  with  this  meaning 
having  only  come  into  use  at  the  time  of  the  Roman  con- 

*  XI.  65  :  koX  hilfiuvtv  aoiKrjTos  fie\f>L  tSw  nad'  7//u.us  xpo'tw. 

t  Strabo,  VIII.  p.  372  :  wort  VW  fJ.y&'  i^yos  tv/ai'o Ktatiai  ri/s  Mwi/miuii' 

7To'A.£(i>S. 


64  EXCAVATIONS  AT  MYCENAE.  [Chap.  III. 

quest.  There  was  an  entire  absence  of  Roman  or  Byzan- 
tine coins.  I  may  here  remark  that  Mycena?  proper  appears 
to  have  struck  no  coins ;  at  least  none  has  ever  been  found. 

Below  the  comparatively  modern  Hellenic  city  I  find 
by  thousands  the  fragments  of  those  splendidly-painted 
archaic  vases,  which  I  have  already  mentioned  when  speak- 


No.  25.    Terra-cotta  Vase.    (3  m.)    Size,  3  :  4,  about 


ing  of  Tiryns.  The  type  of  vase  which  I  most  frequently 
find  here  is  in  the  shape  of  a  globe  with  a  flat  foot,  and 
terminating  above  in  a  very  pretty  narrow  neck,  without  an 
opening,  the  top  of  which  is  joined  on  each  side  by  a  beau- 
tifully-shaped handle  to  the  upper  part  of  the  body.  The 
real  mouth  of  the  vase  is  in  the  shape  of  a  funnel,  and 
always  near  to  the  closed  neck.*    These  vases  always  show 


*  In  the  engraving,  No.  25,  the  spout  is  partly  hidden  by  one  of  the 
handles. 


1876.]  ARCHAIC  PAINTED  VASES.  65 

the  most  variegated  painted  ornamentation  of  horizontal 
circular  bands,  spiral  lines,  or  other  fanciful  decorations, 
which  vary  on  each  vase.  In  the  centre  of  the  flat  top  of 
the  closed  neck  is  usually  a  white  point,  surrounded  by 
three,  four,  six  or  more  red  circles ;  but  sometimes  there  is 
a  cross  painted  in  the  middle  of  the  circles. 

Vases  of  the  same  form  sometimes  occur  in  Attica  ; 
some  specimens  of  them  have  also  been  found  in  Cyprus 


No.  26.   Tcrra-Cotta  Jug.    Ground  yellow  :  lines  black.    (3  M.)   Size,  7  :  9,  about. 

as  well  as  in  Egyptian  tombs.  Mr.  Charles  T.  Newton 
has  called  my  attention  to  forty-three  vases  of  exactly  the 
same  form,  which  have  been  found  in  a  tomb  at  Ialysus  on 
the  island  of  Rhodes,  together  with  other  objects  which 
also  occur  in  Mycemr  j  but  in  the  same  tomb  was  also 
found  an  Egyptian  scarabans  with   the   cartouche  of 


9 


66 


EXCAVATIONS  AT  MYCEN/E.  [Chap.  III. 


Amunoph  III.,  who  is  thought  by  Egyptologists  to  have 
reigned  not  later  than  B.C.  1400. 

As  there  are  almost  as  many  varieties  of  painted  orna- 
mentation as  there  are  vases,  and  as  in  most  instances  this 
ornamentation  is  most  complicated  and  has  never  been 
found  before,  it  would  be  a  vain  attempt  on  my  part 
to  describe  it,  and  I  therefore  simply  refer  to  the  engrav- 
ings.* But  generally  speaking,  I  may  remark  that  the 
decoration  with  spiral  lines  prevails ;  that  fragments  like 
the  so-called  Attic  vases  with  geometrical  patterns  are 


No.  27.    Vase  of  Yellow  Ware,  with  black  and  yellow  lines.    (3  M.)    Actual  size. 

numerous ;  that  flowers,  branches,  and  leaves  occasionally 
occur;  and  that  bands  of  wedge-shaped  signs,  resembling 
fish-spines,  are  frequent,  as  well  as  zigzag  lines  and 
circular  bands.  The  cross  with  the  marks  of  four 
nails  may  often  be  seen ;  as  well  as  the  which  is 

usually  also  represented  with  four  points  indicating  the 


*  See  the  Plates  of  Mycenean  Pottery,  Nos.  30-78.  A  Vase  (No. 
23a)  is  placed,  for  the  sake  of  convenience,  as  a  tail-piece  to  Chapter  II. 


No.  a8.    A  Vase  of  Black  and  Yellow  Ware.    (6  M.J    Size  4  :  5,  about. 


four  nails,  thus  These  signs  cannot  but  represent 

the  suastika,  formed  by  two  pieces  of  wood,  which  were 
laid  across  and  fixed  with  four  nails,  and  in  the  joint  of 


No.  ao..    A  Terra-Cotla  Vase.   The  bands  yellow  and  reddish,  the  lines  black.    (1:5  M.)   Actual  size. 


68 


EXCAVATIONS  AT  MYCEN^.  [Chap.  III. 


which  the  holy  fire  was  produced  by  friction  by  a  third 
piece  of  wood.*  But  both  the  cross  and  the  occur  for 
the  most  part  only  on  the  vases  with  geometrical  patterns. 

Representations  of  birds  and  quadrupeds  sometimes 
occur  on  vases ;  all  are  very  archaic,  particularly  the 
quadrupeds,  of  which  it  is  sometimes  difficult  to  find 
out  what  the  artist  intended  to  represent.!  Thus  there 
often  occur  animals  with  very  long  legs,  a  body  re- 
sembling that  of  a  horse  and  the  head  like  the  beak  of  a 
stork,  but  with  two  horns  like  those  of  a  gazelle. J  Usually 
these  animals  have  a  uniform  red  colour  ;  but  sometimes 
they  have  an  ornamentation  of  spiral  lines.     In  a  few 

instances  animals  are  repre- 
sented which  perfectly  resemble 
gazelles  or  he-goats.§  The 
bird,  in  the  representation  of 
which  the  Mycenean  artist  has 
succeeded  best  is  the  swan.|| 
Of  the  other  birds  the  species 
is  difficult  to  discern.^"  In 
the  representation  of  men  also 
the  artist  may  be  said  to  have 
succeeded :  but  the  vases  are 

No.  80.    Painted  Vase.    Ground  yellow, 

lines  black,  shields  reddish.  broken  into  so  many  fragments 

(2  M.)    Actual  size. 

that  there  are  but  few  entire 
painted  human  figures.  The  small  vase  (No.  80)  shows 
warriors  with  large  round  shields ;  and  on  a  fragment 
(No.  47)  is  represented  a  man  with  a  helmet  on  his  head, 
leading  with  his  right  hand  a  horse,  and  holding  in  his  left 
a  lance.  On  other  fragments  are  only  the  bodies  of  men 
without  heads.  No.  8 1  is  the  mouth-piece  of  a  jug,  on  which 


*  See  '  Troy  and  its  Remains,'  chap.  vi.  pp.  103-4. 
t  See  Nos.  31,  35,  41,  46,  50  and  52.      §  See  Nos.  41  and  48. 
X  See  Nos.  31,  35,  50  and  52.  ||  See  Nos.  33,  40,  42,  45. 

f  See  Nos.  30,  43,  44- 


1876.]  PAINTED  POTTERY  OF  MYCENAE.  69 

a  human  head  is  modelled.  There  is  also  a  human  head 
painted  on  a  fragment  of  pottery  (No.  82);  it  has  a  very 
large  eye,  and  a  head-dress  in  the  form  of  a  Phrygian 
cap.    All  these  representations  are  very  archaic. 


The  greater  number  of  the  vases  with  a  large  opening 
are  painted  both  outside  and  inside;  and  in  many  instances 
the  internal  paintings  by  far  exceed  those  on  the  outside 
in  originality  and  profusion  of  colours.  Thus,  for  example, 
I  found  the  fragment  of  a  vase  decorated  outside  with 
representations  of  deer,  and  inside  with  those  of  men  and 
women. 

I  often  find  fragments  of  tripods  of  terra-cotta  with 
two  large  handles,  of  which  the  three  feet  as  well  as  the 
handles  have  two,  three,  four,  or  even  five  perforations, 
which  can  only  have  served  for  suspension  with  a  string. 
On  many  vases  without  feet,  the  rim  of  the  base  is  per- 
forated on  either  side  as  many  times  as  the  handles. 

No  perforated  lids  were  found,  but  I  have  no  doubt  that 
they  existed,  and  that,  as  with  nearly  all  those  found  in 
Troy,  the  perforations  in  the  vases  served  not  only  for 
hanging  them  up,  but  also  for  fastening  the  lids,  so  as  to 
secure  the  contents. 

All  the  painted  vases  hitherto  found  have  been  made 
on  the  potter's  wheel,  except  the  very  small  ones,  which  are 
evidently  hand-made.  It  is  true  that  I  found  two  fragments 
of  coarse  hand-made  pottery,  which  can  only  be  compared 


70  EXCAVATIONS  AT  MYCEN^.  [Chap.  III. 

to  the  rudest  pottery  of  the  Danish  "  kitchen-middens" 
{Kjbkkenmdddinge) ;  but  they  had  evidently  been  tran- 
sported hither  from  another  place. 

As  at  Tiryns,  the  goblets  are  for  the  most  part  of  white 
clay,  and  in  the  shape  of  large  Bordeaux  wine-glasses ; 
nearly  all  have  one  handle  (see  No.  83).  But  there  are  a 
great  many  other  goblets  of  the  same  form  which  have  a 
uniform  bright  red  colour,  and  others  which,  on  a  light  red 
dead  ground,  have  an  ornamentation  of  numerous  parallel 
dark  red  circular  bands  (see  Nos.  84,  88). 


No.  83.    A  Goblet  of  Terra-cotta.    (3  M.)   Size  5  :  8,  about. 


It  deserves  very  particular  attention  that  goblets  of 
perfectly  the  same  form  were  found  by  me  in  Troy  at  a 
depth  of  50  feet  (see  my  'Atlas  des  Antiquites  Troyennes,' 
Plate  105,  No.  23 11);  further,  that  fourteen  goblets  of 
exactly  the  same  form  were  found  in  the  tomb  at  Ialysus  in 
Rhodes,  already  mentioned,  and  are  now  in  the  British 
Museum.  Only  the  painted  ornamentation  of  these  latter 
goblets  is  different,  for  it  represents  mostly  the  cuttlefish 
(sepia),  but  also  spirals,  or  that  curious  sea-animal  which 


1876.]  HERA-IDOLS  IN  TERRA-COTTA.  J 1 

so  frequently  occurs  on  the  pottery  of  Mycenae  (see  No. 
213,  a,  b,  p.  138),  but  never  on  the  Mycenean  goblets. 

Since  the  7th  inst.  I  have  been  able  to  gather  here  more 
than  200  terra-cotta  idols  of  Hera,  more  or  less  broken,  in 
the  form  of  a  woman  or  in  that  of  a  cow.*    Most  of  the 


Nos.  84-89.    Fragments  of  Tainted  Pottery.  Half-sire. 


former  have  ornaments  painted  in  bright  red  on  a  dead 
ground  of  light  red,  two  breasts  in  relief,  below  which  pro- 
trudes on  each  side  a  long  horn,  so  that  both  horns  together 
form  a  half-circle  5  and,  as  I  have  said  regarding  the  idols  in 


*  See  the  coloured  and  plain  Plates  of  Idols  ;  the  latter  containing 
the  figures  Nos.  90-110. 


72  EXCAVATIONS  AT  MYCENAE.  [Chap.  III. 

Tiryns,  they  must  either  be  intended  to  represent  cow-horns, 
or  the  symbolic  horns  of  the  crescent  moon,  or  both  at  once. 
The  head  of  those  idols  is  of  a  very  compressed  shape,  and 
usually  covered  by  a  large  "  polos."  The  lower  part  is  in 
the  form  of  a  gradually  widening  tube.  It  deserves  par- 
ticular attention  that  a  terra-cotta  idol  of  exactly  the  same 
form  was  found  in  the  aforesaid  tomb  in  Ialysus,  and  is 
now  in  the  British  Museum. 

But  there  were  also  found  idols  of  this  sort  with  a  very 


No.  in.    Terra-cotta  Idol.    (4  H.)    Actual  size. 


low  polos  (No.  111),  and  perhaps  a  dozen  idols  without 
any  horns ;  the  whole  upper  part  of  the  body,  as  far  as 
the  neck,  being  in  the  form  of  a  disk  (Nos.  90,  91,  92, 
93,  112*);  the  head  is  uncovered,  and  the  hair  is  often 
indicated  by  a  long  tress  on  the  back.  There  have  also 
been  found  some  idols  with  a  bird's  head,  covered  or 
uncovered,  large  eyes,  no  horns,  but  two  well-indicated 
hands  joined  on  the  breast  (Nos.  99,  100,  101  |).    I  also 


*  See  also  the  coloured  Plate  C,  fig.  m. 
t  See  also  the  coloured  Plate  C,  fig.  1. 


1876.]  HERA-IDOLS  IN  TERRA-COTTA.  73 

found  the  terra-cotta  figure  (six  inches  high)  of  an  old 
and  ugly  woman,  probably  a  priestess  (No.  113);  the 
features  are  certainly  neither  Assyrian  nor  Egyptian  ;  the 
hands  are  broken  off,  but  they  have  evidently  been  pro- 
truding ;  the  figure  has  a  very  rude  ornamentation  of 
black  lines  on  a  dead  ground  of  strong  red ;  the  waist  is 
ornamented  with  a  number  of  zigzag  lines,  which  may 


No.  112.    Tcrra-cotta  Idol.  No.  113.    Terra-cotta  Figure. 

Actual  size.  ('  M>    Sizc  5  !  6. 


possibly  represent  fire.  The  fragment  (No.  no)  seems, 
from  its  attitude,  to  have  represented  a  rider  on  horseback. 

Of  idols  in  the  form  of  a  cow  hundreds  were  found,  but 
all  are  more  or  less  broken.  It  is  very  remarkable  that  in 
the  sepulchre  at  Ialysus  there  were  also  found  two  such 
cow-idols,  which  are  now  in  the  British  Museum ;  they  are 


74  EXCAVATIONS  AT  MYCENyE.  [Chap.  III. 

very  well  preserved,  and  have  the  same  painted  ornamenta- 
tion as  the  cow-idols  from  Mycenae. 


No.  117.    (7  M.)  No.  118.    (si  m.)  No.  119.    (6  M.) 


No.  114-119.    Terra-cotta  Figures  of  Animals. 

Iron  was  already  known  to  the  Myceneans,  for  I  found 
some  knives  of  this  metal ;  also  some  curious  keys,  one  of 


No.  120.    Objects  in  Bronze,  Lead,  and  Iron.       Size,  1 :  3. 


1876.]  IMPLEMENTS  OF  BRONZE  AND  STONE.  he 

which  is  very  thick,  is  5-6  inches  long,  has  four  teeth, 
eacli  r6  inch  long,  and  has  a  ring  at  the  other  end 
(see  No.  120).  But  judging  by  the  form  of  these 
knives  and  keys,  I  make  bold  to  express  the  opinion  that 
they  belong  to  a  late  period  in  the  history  of  Mycena?, 


No.  191.  No.  123.  No.  123.  No.  124.  No.  125. 

(4M.)  (3  M.)  (3*  m.)  (7M.) 

Nos.  121-125.    Bronze  Knives.    Actual  size. 


and  that  they  date  even  from  the  beginning  of  the 
5th  century  b.c. 

I  also  found  a  large  number  of  button- like  objects 
which  seem  to  have  served  as  ornaments  in  the  house- 


76  EXCAVATIONS  AT  MYCENAE.  [Chap.  III. 

doors  or  elsewhere.*  They  have  a  lustrous  blackish 
colour,  and  according  to  the  analysis  of  my  esteemed  friend 
Mr.  Xavier  Landerer,  Professor  of  Chemistry  at  Athens, 
they  consist  of  a  strongly-burnt  clay  varnished  with  a  lead 
glazing.  Of  bronze  T  discovered  several  well-preserved 
knives,  one  of  which  (No.  125)  still  has  part  of  its  bone 
handle ;  further,  two  arrow-heads  of  a  pyramidal  form 
without  barbs  (yXw^t^e?),  like  the  Carthaginian  arrow- 
heads, which  I  gathered  last  year  in  my  excavations  at 
Motye,  in  Sicily. 


No.  126.    Arrow-heads,  hatchets,  and  other  objects  of  stone.    (3  M.)    Actual  size. 


Of  stone  implements,  I  found  two  beautifully-polished 
hatchets  of  serpentine  (see  No.  126,  in  the  lower  row); 


*  They  are  like  those  figured  under  Nos.  137,  139,  p.  79,  and 
No.  165,  p.  109. 


i S76.]  MUSICAL  INSTRUMENTS.  jy 

further,  a  number  of  weights  of  (Horite  and  a  number  of 
hand  millstones  of  trachyte,  8  inches  long  and  53  inches 
broad,  in  the  form  of  an  egg  which  has  been  cut  lengthwise. 
The  grain  was  bruised  between  the  flat  sides  of  two  of  these 
millstones ;  but  only  a  kind  of  groats  can  have  been  pro- 
duced in  this  way,  not  flour  ;  the  bruised  grain  could  not 
have  been  used  for  making  bread.  In  Homer,*  we  find  it 
used  for  porridge,  and  also  for  strewing  on  the  roasted 
meat.f  Of  gold  only  a  small  particle  has  been  found:  of 
silver  none  as  yet ;  of  lead  a  large  quantity. 

I  also  found  a  small  and  thick  terra-cotta  disk,  with  a 
furrow  all  round  for  suspension  by  a  string ;  on  one  side, 
which  is  well  polished,  and  seems  to  have  been  covered 
with  wax,  are  engraved  a  number  of  j-J^'s,  the  sign  which 
occurs  so  frequently  in  the  ruins  of  Troy.  Whorls  are 
found  here  by  hundreds;  nearly  all  are  of  a  beautiful  blue 
stone  without  any  ornaments  (see  No.  15,  p.  17).  Whorls 
of  exactly  the  same  kind  were  also  found  in  the  tomb  at 
Ialysus.  As  yet  only  five  whorls  of  terra-cotta  have  been 
found,  and  without  any  ornaments. 

The  Myceneans  seem  to  have  been  musicians,  for  I 
found  the  beautifully  ornamented  fragments  of  a  lyre  of 
bone  (No.  127),  and  a  flute,  of  which  we  have  the  three 
pieces  (Nos.  128,  129,  130),  which  were  found  at  the  same 
place,  though  at  different  depths,  and  evidently  belong  to 

•  //.  XVIII.  558-560  :— 

Kr}f}VKf$  5*  anavivOtv  virb  $pvt  SaiVa  wwOVT0t 
f)ouv  8'  (uM&TCHTfS  ixiyav  &fi<pfirui',  at  8f  yvvatKts 
5(7trpov  tpitimatv,  Aei'i/c'  &.K<pna  iroKh'a  -naXvvov. 
'  A  little  way  removed,  the  heralds  slew 
A  sturdy  ox,  and  now  beneath  an  oak 
Prepared  the  feast  ;  while  women  mixed,  hard  by, 
White  barley  porridge  for  the  labourers'  meal." 

Lord  Derby. 

t  Od.  XIV.  76-77  :— 

uwT-qaas  5'  &pa  iravra  (pipcuv  -rrapt8r}K'  'OSuaati'i 
8tpfj.'  aurois  60tKo7<Tiv  •  d  S  &\<t>ira  Atuxa  ■na.K'JVfV. 
And  when  he  had  roasted  all,  he  brought  it  and  put  it  before  Ulysses,  still  warm 
on  the  spits,  strewn  over  with  white  (lour. 


78  EXCAVATIONS  AT  MYCEN.E.  [Chap.  III. 

the  very  same  instrument.  No.  129,  which  is  the  upper 
piece  of  the  flute,  consists,  according  to  Professor  Landerer, 
of  bone;  No.  128,  which  is  the  lower  piece,  consists  of 
very  hard-baked  clay:  both  have  a  very  symmetrical  intaglio 


No.  127.    Fragment  of  a  Lyre  of  Bone.    (.3^  M.)  Size,  7  :  8,  about. 


ornamentation.  The  fragment  of  the  tube  of  the  flute 
(No.  130a)  consists  of  potstone,  the  lapis  ollaris  of  Pliny, 
and  we  therefore  have  here  a  marvellous  Mycenean  flute 
consisting  of  bone,  baked  clay,  and  stone.    But  potstone 


No.  128.    (3  M.)  No.  129.    (6  M.) 

Nos.  128,  129.    Lower  and  Upper  Ends  of  a  Flute.    Actual  size. 

seems  to  have  been  frequently  used  for  flutes  in  antiquity, 
for  I  myself  possess  a  flute  of  lapis  ollaris  found  in  a 
tomb  in  Ithaca  :  it  bears  the  inscription  iepcod*  and  seems 

H/    A     .  k    /»  to  belong  to  the  6th  or  7th 

f  L\    1/  I  y  j   century  b.c.      Also  a  frag- 


1  ment  of  a  crystal  vase  was 

found;  and  a  comb  (No.  130),  which,  by  the  analysis  of 
Professor  Landerer,  consists  of  very  hard  white  baked  clay. 


*  See  my  '  Ithaque,  le  Pe'loponnese,  Troie.' 


1876.]  VARIOUS  OBJECTS  FOUND.  79 

It  was  found  at  a  depth  of  1 2  feet ;  it  has  in  the  middle  a 
hole  for  suspension  with  a  string.    I  frequently  find  here  flat 


130.     (36M.)  130a.     (2M.)  131.  132.  133.  134.         135.  136. 

(4M.)  (3  M.)  (7  M.)      (3M.)     (SM.)     (3  M.) 

Nos.  130-136.    Comb  and  Needles  of  Terra-cotta.    Size  5: 8. 
Note. — No.  130^1  is  part  of  the  Flute  to  which  Nos.  128  and  isq  also  belong. 


pieces  of  terra-cotta  with  painted  or  impressed  ornaments, 
which  must  have  served  for  coating  the  interior  walls  of  the 
houses  (Nos.  137  and  139).    At  a  depth  of  from  10  to 


No.  137.   (5  m.)  No.  138.  No.  139.   (3  M.) 


Nos.  137,  139.    Terra-cotta  Ornaments.    Actual  size.        No.  138  is  a  Gold  Button. 


u  feet,  and  sometimes  of  only  6h  feet,  below  the  surface,  I 
am  bringing  to  light  Cyclopean  house-walls,  built  of  un- 


8o 


EXCAVATIONS  AT  MYCENAE.  [Chap.  [II. 


wrought  stones,  joined  without  clay  or  cement,  and 
founded  on  the  natural  rock,  from  20  to  24  feet  below  the 
surface.  The  corner-stones  of  these  mansions  are  remark- 
able for  their  massiveness. 

At  the  north  end  of  my  trench  I  have  brought  to  light 
part  of  a  Cyclopean  water-conduit,  which  is  still  more  re- 
markable than  those  of  Tiryns,  for  there  at  least  the  water- 
conduit  rests  on  the  natural  rock,  while  here  it  is  imbedded 
in  the  debris,  and,  as  the  uncut  stones  are  joined  without 
any  binding  material,  it  is  really  wonderful  how  a  current 
of  water  could  have  passed  along  them  without  being- 
lost  through  the  interstices.  Close  to  the  Cyclopean  water- 
conduit  are  twelve  recesses,  consisting  of  large  slabs  of 
calcareous  stone  and  covered  by  smaller  ones  ;  in  my 
opinion  they  cannot  possibly  be  anything  else  than  small 
cisterns.  A  few  yards  south  of  these  reservoirs  I  have 
brought  to  light  two  tombstones,  which  stand  in  a 
direct  line  from  north  to  south,  and  are  ornamented 
with  bas-reliefs  of  the  highest  interest.  Unfortunately 
the  tombstone  to  the  north  consists  of  a  soft  calcareous 
stone,  in  consequence  of  which  it  is  broken  in  several 
places,  and  its  upper  part  has  not  been  preserved.  It  is 
6  inches  thick,  4  feet  high,  4  ft.  2  in.  broad  below,  and 
3  ft.  8i  in.  above ;  it  shows  one  undivided  picture, 
encompassed  below  as  well  as  on  both  sides  by  a  broad 
border,  which  is  formed  in  the  simplest  way  into  rows, 
and  it  represents  a  hunting  scene.*  On  a  chariot,  drawn 
by  one  horse,  stands  the  hunter,  who  holds  in  his  left 
hand  the  reins,  in  his  right  a  long  broad  sword.  Owing 
to  fractures  in  the  stone  the  upper  part  of  the  chariot 
is  not  distinctly  visible,  but  the  wheel  can  be  well  seen, 
with  its  four  spokes  forming  a  cross.  The  outstretched 
fore  and  hind  legs  of  the  horse  appear  to  indicate  his 
great  speed.    Below  to  the  left  is  a  tolerably  well-formed 


See  the  Vignette  to  this  Chapter,  No.  24,  p.  52. 


1876.] 


SCULPTURED  TOMBSTONES. 


81 


dog,  with  a  curved  tail,  chasing  a  flying  deer,  probably 
a  roe,  whose  tail  however  is  by  far  too  long.    Just  above 


No.  140.    The  Second  Tombstone,  found  above  the  Sepulchre  in  the  Acropolis     (4  M . ) 
About  one-twelfth  of  the  actual  size. 


1  I 


82 


EXCAVATIONS  AT  MYCENAE.  [Chap.  III. 


the  roe's  back,  and  between  the  horse's  feet,  lies  an  object 
which  cannot  be  recognised  ;  it  may  equally  well  repre- 
sent a  man  lying  prostrate,  or  a  cart  with  two  wheels. 
On  either  side,  in  the  broad  border  formed  by  two  vertical 
parallel  fillets,  are  three  ovals  or  cartoiichcs,  containing  a 
very  curious  ornamentation,  which  at  first  sight  seems  to 
have  a  symbolic  signification  ;  but  on  close  examination 
one  finds  that  it  is  nothing  more  than  a  beautiful  orna- 
mentation of  spiral  lines.  At  the  base  are  three  horizontal 
fillets.  Behind  the  chariot  is  a  row  of  signs  resembling 
letters,  but  this  also  is  probably  nothing  more  than  orna- 
mentation. 

At  a  distance  of  one  foot  from  this  sepulchral  steli 
and  in  the  same  line  with  it  is  the  other  (No.  140),  which 
is  of  much  harder  calcareous  stone,  and  has  been  therefore 
much  better  preserved.  It  is  only  damaged  at  the  top, 
where  a  piece  6  to  8  inches  high  may  be  missing ;  its 
breadth  at  bottom  is  3  ft.  10  in.,  and  at  top  3  ft.  7  in. ;  its 
height  is  6  feet.  It  is  divided  into  an  upper  and  a  lower 
compartment,  which  are  separated  by  a  horizontal  fillet, 
and  enclosed  on  three  sides  by  two  parallel  bands.  The 
upper  compartment  shows  four  horizontal  parallel  rows, 
each  of  six  spirals,  two  complete  and  two  imperfect ;  making 
in  all  twenty-four  spirals  united  with  each  other  and  re- 
presenting a  band  in  relief,  which  covers  the  whole  field 
with  a  network,  and  which,  as  my  friend  the  well-known 
archaeologist,  Dr.  Fr.  Schlie,  rightly  observes,  is  in  principle 
the  same  as  the  filling  up  with  straight  lines,  horizontally 
and  vertically  combined,  into  what  is  called  a  fret  or  key- 
pattern  (see  p.  83). 

The  lower  part  of  the  sculpture  represents  a  warrior 
in  a  chariot,  rather  in  a  sitting  than  in  a  standing  posture, 
for  the  lower  part  of  his  body  is  not  visible ;  and  whilst, 
in  a  very  primitive  manner,  his  head  is  represented  in 
profile,  the  front  side  of  his  breast  is  given  almost  without 
any  perspective  diminution.    He  holds  in  his  left  hand 


1876.]  MYCENEAN  AND  HOMERIC  CHARIOTS.  83 

a  sword  which  is  still  in  the  sheath,  its  handle  ending 
in  a  large  knob.  In  his  right  he  holds  a  long  object, 
which  ends  at  the  horse's  mouth,  and  which,  being  at 
first  thick  and  becoming  gradually  thinner,  resembles 
much  more  a  lance  than  the  reins ;  and  it  is  difficult 
to  say  which  of  the  two  the  artist  intended  to  represent. 
The  chariot  is  drawn  by  a  stallion,  whose  outstretched 
legs  seem  to  indicate  that  he  is  running  at  great  speed  * 
The  tail  of  the  animal  stands  upright,  and  its  end  only 
forms  a  curve.     The  legs  and  the  tail  are  so  thick  in 


No.  i4ort.    Pattern  of  straight  and  spiral  Frets. 


proportion  to  the  body  that,  were  it  not  for  the  head, 
one  would  think  that  the  sculptor  intended  to  repre- 
sent a  lion  ;  the  stallion's  ears  also  appear  more  like  horns 
than  like  real  horse-ears.  Just  before  the  horse  is  standing 
a  warrior,  apparently  naked,  who  grasps  the  animal's  head 
with  his  right  hand,  and  holds  in  his  uplifted  left  hand  a 


*  As  we  never  hear  of  heroic  chariots  with  one  horse,  this  may  be 
an  imperfect  representation  of  two.  The  same  remark  applies  to  the 
next  tombstone.    See  p.  86. 


84 


EXCAVATIONS  AT  MYCENAE. 


[Chap.  III. 


double-edged  sword ;  he  seems  to  be  full  of  anguish ;  his 
head  is  represented  in  profile,  while  the  rest  of  his  body  is 
shown  without  the  slightest  perspective  reduction. 

To  fill  up  the  vacant  space,  there  is  represented  below 
this  figure  and  below  the  horse  a  pattern  of  volutes,  whose 
second,  third,  and  fourth  spirals  are  much  larger,  in  pro- 
portion to  the  space,  than  the  other  five  spirals.  Mr. 
Postolaccas  calls  to  my  notice  that  the  curious  relief-band 
above  the  horse  resembles  the  pelta  hinata  of  the  Amazons 
on  the  ancient  vases ;  this  relief-band  consists  of  two 
horizontal  spirals  opposite  to  each  other.  The  chariot  gives 
us  a  unique  and  most  precious  specimen  of  the  Homeric 
chariot,  of  which  we  had  before  but  a  confused  idea.  The 
body  of  the  chariot  (ireipivs)  does  not  form  a  semicircle,  as 
we  were  wont  to  imagine  from  the  sculptures  of  classical 
antiquity  and  from  the  ancient  chariot  preserved  in  the 
museum  at  Munich,  but  it  is  quadrangular  ;  according  to 
the  Iliad,*  the  chariot-box  was  fastened  on  the  chariot  every 
time  it  was  used.  We  see  on  three  sides  of  the  chariot-box 
a  band  or  fillet,  which  is  what  Homer  f  doubtless  means  by 
the  word  avrvij,  translated  by  the  Earl  of  Derby  '  rail.' 

Unlike  Homer's  chariot  of  the  gods,  the  wheels  of  which 
(kvkXol)  had  eight  spokes,  the  wheels  of  the  chariot  before 
us  have  only  four  spokes,  which  form  a  cross  around  the 
axle  {a^ovi  a^i's).*   Just  behind  the  warrior  in  the  chariot 


*  XXIV.  190  and  267.  Homer  also  uses  irdpivBa  (the  word  only 
occurs  in  the  accusative)  for  the  wicker-basket  which  held  the  load 
fastened  on  to  a  cart  (afia^a) ;  and  this,  its  original  sense,  may  be  a 
guide  to  its  form  in  the  chariot  also  (comp.  Od.  xv.  131). 

+  //.  V.  727-728  :— 

Si<ppos  Si  Xfn"T60"ri  Kat  a-pyvpeOHriv  Ifiaatv 
fVTfTarai '  Soial  5i  ■jrfpiSpofj.ot  Hvrvyts  elaiv. 

"  The  chariot-board  on  gold  and  silver  bands 
Was  hung,  and  round  it  ran  a  double  rail." 

X  My  friend,  Mr.  W.  S.  W.  Vaux,  calls  my  attention  to  the  fact  that 
this  four-spoked  chariot  wheel,  seen  also  in  the  cut  No.  120  (p.  74)  and 
on  the  Mycenean  intaglios  hereinafter  described,  is  characteristic  of  the 


1876.]  CHARACTER  OF  THE  SCULPTURE.  85 

there  is  a  very  curious  sign,  the  lower  part  of  which  forms 
a  long  hook,  the  upper  part  a  spiral  line.  M.  Postolaccas 
reminds  me  that  this  same  sign  very  frequently  occurs 
on  the  medals  of  Roman  families,  as,  for  example,  on  those 
of  Julius  Caesar,  Marcus  Antonius,  and  so  forth,  and  in  his 
opinion  it  is  nothing  else  than  the  augur-staff,  in  Latin 
"  litnus" 

On  carefully  examining  the  sculpture  of  the  tombstones, 
I  find  such  a  marvellous  accuracy  and  symmetry  in  all  the 
spiral  ornamentation,  that  I  feel  almost  tempted  to  think 
such  work  can  only  have  been  produced  by  a  school  of 
sculptors  which  had  worked  for  ages  in  a  similar  style.  On 
the  other  hand,  the  men  and  the  animals  are  made  as  rudely 
and  in  as  puerile  a  manner  as  if  they  were  the  primitive 
artist's  first  essay  to  represent  living  beings.  But  still  there 
is  a  great  resemblance  between  the  bodies  of  the  animals 
and  those  of  the  two  lions  on  the  gate  ;  there  is  the  same 
style  of  art,  and  much  of  the  coarseness  in  the  animals 
on  the  tombstones  may  be  clue  to  the  inferiority  of  the 
calcareous  stone;  probably  the  primitive  sculptor  who 
chiselled  them  would  have  produced  something  better  if  he 
had  had  to  work  on  the  beautiful  hard  breccia  of  which 
the  sculpture  above  the  Lions'  Gate  consists.  I  have 
therefore  not  the  slightest  objection  to  admit  that  the 
sculptured  sepulchral  slabs  may  be  of  nearly  the  same  epoch 
as  the  lions  over  the  gate. 


earliest  Greek  coins.  The  early  Egyptian  and  Ethiopian  and  Assyrian 
wheels  have  six  spokes.  The  Persian  Achaemenid  sculptures  show 
chariots  with  eight-spoked  wheels. 


No.  141.    The  Third  Tombstone,  found  above  the  Sepulchres  in  the  Acropolis.    (4  M  ) 
About  one-tenth  of  the  actual  size. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

Excavations  in  the  Citadel  of  Mycen.e — continued. 

Wages  and  worth  of  labour  at  Mycenae  —  The  double  circle  of  slabs — ■ 
Two  more  sculptured  stela.  —  Unsculptured  stela  —  Ashes  and  bones, 
probably  of  sacrifices  —  Fragments  of  other  sculptured  tombstones — 
The  style  of  these  stela  unique  —  Their  probable  age  about  1500 
B.C. — A  Cyclopean  house  filled  with  ashes,  bones,  &c.  —  Objects 
found  there  and  in  the  twelve  reservoirs  —  Great  significance 
of  the  tombstones  found  in  the  Acropolis  —  They  mark  the  Royal 


Ch.  IV.  1876.J        WORK  AND  WAGES  AT  MYCENjE. 


87 


Tombs,  mentioned  by  Pauganias  from  tradition  only  —  Excavation 
of  the  Treasury  close  to  the  Lions'  Gate  :  about  as  large  as  that  of 
Atreus  —  Antiquity  of  the  covering-up  proved  by  the  ancient 
vases,  idols,  &c.  in  the  debris  above  —  Hera-idols,  and  others, 
found  in  the  dromos,  and  in  the  Acropolis  —  Their  vast  abundance  — 
Cow-heads  on  handles  of  vases,  as  at  Troy  —  Moulds  for  earrings 
and  other  ornaments  of  gold  and  silver,  and  curious  clay  cones  — 
Other  ornaments  of  glazed  clay,  potstone,  &c.  —  Numerous 
objects  of  bronze  —  Curious  wheels  —  Necklace  beads  of  various 
stones,  with  intaglios  of  animals,  and  similar  objects  of  other 
shapes  —  Two-handled  goblets  ;  the  Sca-os  a^iKx-TnXkw  of  Homer  — 
Depth  of  the  debris —  Breach  in  the  great  Cyclopean  wall,  repaired 
by  an  ancient  wall  of  small  stones  —  The  (marry  of  Mycenae. 

Mycenae,  Sept.  9,  1876. 
Since  the  19th  of  August  I  have  continued  the  excavations 
with  an  average  number  of  125  workmen  and  4  horse- 
carts,  and  have  made  good  progress.  As  it  may  interest 
the  reader  to  know  what  wages  are  paid  here,  I  mention 
that  the  daily  wages  of  a  common  labourer  are  i\ 
drachmas,*  the  wages  of  my  overseers  5  to  6  drachmas,  and 
the  cost  of  each  cart  8  drachmas,  but  the  labourers  here 
work  much  better  and  are  much  more  honest  than  those 
in  the  Troad. 

In  the  trench  close  to  the  Lions'  Gate  I  have  been 
obliged  to  stop  the  work  for  a  time,  the  Archaeological 
Society  of  Athens  having  promised  to  send  an  engineer  to 
repair  the  Cyclopean  wall  above  and  beside  the  gate,  and  to 
fasten  the  sculpture  of  the  two  lions  with  cramp-irons,  so 
as  to  secure  it  against  the  shock  of  an  earthquake. 

In  the  large  second  trench  I  have  brought  to  light  a 
second  wall  of  smaller  stones,  12  feet  high,  which  runs 
parallel  with  the  great  circuit  wall,  and  thus  forms  a  curve 
of  about  the  third  part  of  a  circle.  It  enters  the  adjoining 
field,  which  is  now  being  excavated,  and  its  direction  parallel 
with  the  great  circuit  wall  seems  to  have  been  unintentional. 
It  is  not,  however,  vertical,  but  its  western  face  slopes  at  an 


*  The  Greek  drachma  is  worth  about  &±d.  English. 


88 


EXCAVATIONS  IN  THE  CITADEL. 


[Chap.  IV. 


angle  of  75  degrees  with  the  horizon,  like  the  great  tower 
of  Ilium.  It  deserves  attention  that  here  and  there  we  see  in 
this  wall  wrought  flat  slabs,  which  give  the  impression  that 
the  wall  belongs  to  a  later  period  than  the  Cyclopean  circuit 
wall.  On  this  wall  are  two  parallel  rows  of  large,  closely- 
joined  slabs  of  a  calcareous  stone,  which  show  the  same 
inclination  as  the  wall,  and  appear  to  form,  with  the  part  in 
the  adjoining  field,  a  full  circle.  If  so,  the  wall,  on  which 
these  rows  of  slabs  stand,  can  only  have  been  built  for  the 
purpose  of  supporting  them  in  this  lower  part  of  the  Acro- 
polis, and  of  raising  them  to  the  level  of  their  prolongation 
on  the  much  higher  neighbouring  ground.  It  deserves 
particular  attention  that  on  the  inner  side  of  the  supposed 
circle,  namely,  on  the  side  towards  which  the  parallel  rows  of 
slabs  incline,  the  vacant  space  has  evidently  been  filled  up 
with  debris  to  the  very  top  of  the  wall  immediately  after 
its  completion.* 

I  frequently  found  here,  at  a  depth  of  from  three  to  four 
feet,  ashes  of  burnt  animal  matter,  also  masses  of  bones  of 
animals,  but  no  bones  which  I  can  identify  as  human,  for 
no  skull  has  turned  up.  The  space  between  the  two 
slanting  parallel  rows  of  slabs  was  filled  with  debris,  mixed 
with  innumerable  fragments  of  beautiful  archaic  pottery, 
and  a  great  many  Hera-idols,  but  no  bones  were  found 
there.  Within  the  curve,  and  very  near  to  the  two  parallel 
rows  of  slabs,  I  brought  to  light  two  more  sculptured 
tombstones  of  a  hard  calcareous  stone  (see  Nos.  141,  142), 
one  of  which  is  in  the  same  line  with  the  two  sculptured 
slabs  which  I  have  already  described,  and  only  1  ft.  5  in. 
south  of  them.  It  is  3  ft.  8f  in.  broad  at  the  base,  and 
3  ft.  yh  in.  at  top;  6  in.  thick,  and  4  ft.  1  in.  long;  and 
thus  the  line  of  the  three  tombstones  together  is  13  ft.  8  in. 
long.    This  newly  discovered  third  tombstone  (No.  141) 


*  This  most  curious  enclosure  will  be  more  fully  described,  and  the 
important  question  of  its  use  discussed,  in  the  following  Chapter. 


1876.]  THE  THIRD  SCULPTURED  TOMBSTONE.  89 

shows,  like  the  two  others,  on  its  western  side,  a  sculpture 
in  bas-relief,  which  is  divided  by  a  horizontal  fillet  into 
two  compartments,  and  is  encompassed  on  all  sides  by  two 
parallel  fillets.  Of  the  upper  part  of  the  stone  a  piece, 
apparently  about  one  foot  high,  is  missing.  In  the  upper 
compartment  is  represented  a  warrior,  whose  head  and  neck 
are  not  now  visible  on  account  of  the  breaking  of  the 
stone.  He  is  represented  standing  on  a  chariot  drawn 
apparently  by  only  one  horse*,  the  outstretched  hind  and 
fore  legs  and  the  uplifted  tail  of  which  seem  to  indicate  that 
he  is  running  with  great  velocity,  just  as  on  the  two  tomb- 
stones already  described  ;  the  fore  and  hind  legs  of  the  horse 
are  not  separated,  but  appear  as  one  broad  leg.  In  this  case 
the  reins  with  which  the  warrior  guides  the  horse  are  well 
indicated  by  one  broad  band  :  also  the  horse's  tail  is  less 
bushy  and  better  proportioned,  but  the  rest  of  the  animal's 
body  is  a  perfect  copy  of  that  of  the  horse  on  the  preceding 
bas-relief.  The  chariot-box  is  here  exceedingly  low,  and 
Very  small  when  compared  with  that  of  the  chariot  on  the 
other  tombstone,  but  it  is  not  less  remarkable,  because  it 
is  surrounded  by  a  band  or  fillet  (<xi>tv£),  which  is  double 
on  the  lower  part,  .lust  behind  this  chariot-box  is  repre- 
sented an  enormously  broad  two-edged  knife,  the  handle 
of  which  terminates  111  a  very  thick  knob.  As  such  a 
knife  can  never  have  existed,  I  presume  that  the  artist 
intended  to  represent  here  a  two-edged  sword  with  a 
thick  knob  at  the  end  of  the  handle,  but  that  for  want  of 
space  he  made  it  very  short,  without  however  diminishing 
its  breadth,  for  which  there  was  room  enough.  The  one 
wheel  which  is  visible  is  much  like  that  of  the  chariots 
on  the  other  tombstones,  for  it  has  also  only  four  spokes, 
forming  a  cross  round  the  axle.  The  adversary  on  toot, 
who  is  visible  on  the  right  side,  and  whose  upper  part  is 
likewise  missing  owing  to  the  breaking  of  the  stone,  does 

*  See  note  on  p.  83. 


1  2 


9° 


EXCAVATIONS  IN  THE  CITADEL. 


[Chap.  IV. 


not  stand  on  the  same  level  as  the  horse  and  the  chariot, 
but  he  appears  as  if  hovering  in  the  air,  on  a  level  with 
the  warrior  in  the  chariot.  He  assaults  the  latter  with  a 
long  lance,  on  which  can  be  seen  an  object  of  a  peculiar 
form,  which  much  resembles  one  of  the  plain  Trojan  idols,* 
and  must  have  served  to  attach  the  lance  to  the  shoulder. 

In  the  lower  compartment  we  see  two  large  circles, 
forming  a  figure  of  eight,  lying  horizontally,  and  in  each 
of  the  two  circles  six  spirals,  of  which  the  adjacent  parts 
are  linked  together  alternately,  on  the  inside  and  outside, 
by  curved  bands  in  relief.  Below  the  sculpture  at  the 
foot  of  the  tombstone  we  see  two  spiral  ornaments  im- 
perfectly scratched  in  the  stone,  as  if  the  artist  had  made 
a  trial  sketch  of  what  he  was  going  to  carve  on  the  tablet. 
Our  present  artists  make  their  sketches  on  paper,  but  the 
early  Mycenean  sculptor  had  neither  paper  and  pencil  nor 
pen  and  ink  at  his  disposal,  and  so  he  made  his  trial  sketch 
on  the  stone  itself,  but  on  its  lower  part,  which  was  to  be 
sunk  into  the  ground  and  was  therefore  hidden  from  the 
eye. 

At  a  distance  of  only  10  feet  south  of  the  sculptured 
tombstone  last  described,  and  almost  in  a  straight  line 
with  the  three  slabs,  is  the  fourth  tombstone  (No.  142), 
carved  with  a  bas-relief  which  likewise  faces  the  west. 
This  stele  is  also  a  trapezium,  6  in.  thick,  6  ft.  high,  4  ft. 
broad  at  the  lower  end,  and  3  ft.  \o\  in.  at  the  upper 
end.  Of  the  upper  end  a  piece,  probably  about  a  foot 
long,  is  missing.  That  side  of  the  stele  which  faces  the 
west  has  a  broad  border  to  the  right  and  left,  and  the 
remaining  space  is  divided  into  three  vertical  compart- 
ments of  equal  breadth,  which  reach  down  to  more  than 
half  the  height  of  the  stone.  With  the  exception  of  two 
vertical  lines,  which  form  a  border  to  the  right  and  left, 
the  middle  compartment  is  left  unsculptured,  and  was 


*  See  'Troy  and  its  Remains,'  p.  36,  fig.  30. 


The  Fourth  Tombstone,  found  above  ihc  Sepulchres  in  the  Acropolis.    (4  H.J 
About  one-ninth  of  the  actual  size. 


92 


EXCAVATIONS  IN  THE  CITADEL.         [Chap.  IV. 


probably  intended  to  represent  a  column.  The  two  side 
compartments  contain  a  broad  wave-pattern,  which  repre- 
sents the  coils  of  a  serpent,  and  descends  vertically  from 
the  top  to  the  bottom,  following  the  direc- 
tion of  the  fillets.  Though  it  is  only  in 
low-relief,  it  appears  to  be  vigorously  carved. 
If,  as  Dr.  Fr.  Schlie  observes  to  me,  we  had 
to  show  this  pattern  (a)  by  broken  straight 
lines,  we  should  do  it  in  the  manner  shown 
by  the  pattern  (b). 
Immediately  to  the  south  of  this  tombstone,  in  the 
same  line  with  it,  and  separated  from  it  by  only  one  foot, 
is  another  tombstone,  unsculptured.    Two  more  unsculp- 

tured  sepulchral  slabs 
stand  close  to  each 
other,  23  feet  to  the 
east  of  the  first  three 
sculptured  tomb- 
stones ;  and  at  a 
distance  of  40  feet 
directly  to  the  south 
of  the  former,  stand 
two  more  unsculp- 
tured tombstones,  4 
feet  apart.  All  the  un- 
sculptured slabs  like- 
wise stand  vertically 
and  face  the  west. 

At  the  foot  of  the 
sculptured  tombstone 
first  described  I 
found  a  handful  of 
black  ashes,  and  among  them  a  large  button  of  wood, 
covered  with  a  thick  leaf  of  gold,  on  which  is  engraved 
a  circle,  and  within  it  a  triangle  containing  the  repre- 
sentations of  three  long   broad  knives,  the  handles  of 


No.  143. 

Piece  of  a  Tombstone.    (4M.)    Size  1  :  5,  about. 


1876.]  ASH  KS  OF  SACRIFICES.  93 

which  are  formed  by  beautiful  spiral  lines.  I  also  found 
at  the  feet  of  most  of  the  tombstones  grey  ashes  of  burnt 
animal  matter,  which  I  at  first  thought  was  from  human 
bodies  ;  but  as  I  found  together  with  them  bones  which  on 
closer  investigation  turn  out  to  be  those  of  animals,  I 
now  think  the  ashes   must  be  from  sacrifices.  There 


No.  144.    Piece  of  a  Tombstone.    (4  II.)   Size  1  :  7,  about. 


certainly  appear  to  have  been  some  more  sculptured  tomb- 
stones here,  for  I  find  in  this  and  in  the  adjoining  field, 
at  a  depth  of  10  to  13  feet  below  the  surface,  a  number 
of  fragments  of  sepulchral  stehc. 

Of  these  the  most  interesting  (No.  143)  consists  of 
hard  calcareous  stone,  and  is  15  in.  long,  1  1  in.  broad,  and 
6V  in.  thick.    It  represents  a  boy,  apparently  naked,  who 


94  EXCAVATIONS  IN  THE  CITADEL.        [Chap.  IV. 

had  no  doubt  been  made  standing  on  a  chariot,  for  he 
holds  in  his  left  hand  the  reins,  indicated  by  a  broad  band : 
his  right  hand  is  also  stretched  out,  but  not  holding  any- 
thing: his  head-dress  is  indicated  by  two  curved  lines  on 
the  head :  the  two  vertical  lines  to  the  left  were  part  of  the 
border  of  the  stele.    A  second  fragment  is  22  in.  long, 


No.  145.    Piece  of  a  Tombstone.    (3I  m.)    Size  1  :  5,  about. 

17  in.  broad,  and  6  in.  thick,  and  consists  of  a  soft  cal- 
careous stone,  in  consequence  of  which  the  sculpture  is 
much  defaced  and  quite  indistinct. 

The  third  fragment  (No.  144),  2  ft.  6  in.  long,  2  ft. 
broad,  and  6  in.  thick,  is  evidently  the  upper  right-hand 
part  of  a  stele".  This  also  consists  of  a  soft  calcareous 
stone,  and  the  sculpture  is  consequently  much  defaced.  It 


1876.]  FRAGMENTS  OF  STEL./E.  95 

is  divided  by  broad  fillets  into  three  compartments,  of 
which  the  upper  one  as  well  as  that  to  the  right  contain 
spirals,  whilst  we  see  the  fore-part  of  two  horses  in  that 
to  the  left  below. 

Another  fragment  (No.  145)  is  apparently  the  left 
upper  part  of  a  stili:  it  is  1  ft.  8  in.  broad,  2  ft.  2  in. 


Nos.  146,  147,  148.    Three  pieces  of  Tombstones.    (3  4  M.)    Siie  1  :  6,  about. 


high,  and  4  in.  thick,  and  likewise  consists  of  a  soft 
calcareous  stone.  Ir  has  to  the  left  a  border  of  two 
fillets,  at  the  top  the  slight  remnant  of  one  fillet,  and  is 
divided  by  a  horizontal  fillet  into  two  compartments,  of 
which  the  upper  one  has  beautiful  spirals,  forming  the  same 
pattern  as  on  No.  140,  whilst  of  the  lower  compartment 


96 


EXCAVATIONS  IN  THE  CITADEL.        [Chap.  IV. 


only  a  small  part  remains,  the  sculpture  of  which  is 
effaced. 

I  also  show  three  fragments  of  tombstones,  all  of  a 
harder  calcareous  stone,  and  therefore  better  preserved. 
The  upper  one  (No.  146),  which  is  1  ft.  high,  io|  in. 
broad,  and  4f  in.  thick,  has  a  border  of  two  broad  and 
three  narrower  bands,  above  which  only  the  foot  of  a  horse 
is  visible.  The  two  lower  fragments  (Nos.  147,  148)  show 
spirals;  the  former  is  iof  in.  long  and  broad,  and  4!  in. 
thick;  the  latter  is  10J  in.  long,  10  in.  broad,  and  4J  in. 
thick.    Of  two  more  fragments  of  stelce  of  a  soft  calca- 


■      •-!««..•  ■MiTHii""*T*"' 


i   t  ''4 


Nos.  149,  150.    fragments  of  Tombstones,    (j-4  m.)   Size  1  :  12,  about. 

reous  stone  (Nos.  149,  150),  the  first  represents  to 
the  left  spirals,  to  the  right  a  horse ;  the  second,  which 
has  only  spirals,  is  1  ft.  6  in.  high,  16  in.  broad,  and  4  in. 
thick. 

I  have  also  been  fortunate  enough  to  discover,  only 
3  ft.  below  the  surface,  a  piece  of  a  quadrangular  column 
of  red  porphyry,  i2|  in.  long,  iof  in.  broad,  and  8  in. 
thick,  ornamented  with  a  splendid  low  relief  of  palmettos 
lying  horizontally  (No.  151)-  Two  of  these  stand  opposite 
to  each  other,  and  are  united  by  a  rectangular  middle  piece, 
which,  within  an  upper  and  a  lower  horizontal  border,  is 
divided  on  both  sides,  to  the  right  and  left,  by  three  ver- 
tical band-like  cuts  into  seven  upright  rectangular  fields,  of 


1876]  COLUMNS  OF  PORPHYRY.  97 

which  the  middle  one  is  as  broad  as  the  three  on  either  side. 
This  middle  piece  reminds  one  of  the  Doric  triglyphs.  To 
the  right  and  left  of  the  palmettos  we  see  the  fragments  of 
other  ornaments  of  a  similar  kind,  and  it  seems  that  the 
whole  column  has  been  decorated  in  this  way.  Above  the 
palmettos  there  is  a  row  of  denticles,  and  there  has  no  doubt 
been  a  similar  row  below.  The  two  middle  palmettos  re- 
semble a  saloon  furnished  with  seats  all  round.  I  further 
found  at  a  depth  of  about  11  ft.  6  in.  the  fragment  of 
another  column  or  frieze  of  red  porphyry,  8J  in.  long,  10  in. 


No.  is:.    Piece  of  a  quadrangular  Column  of  Red  Porphyry,    (i  M.)    Size  i :  4,  about. 


broad,  and  4i  in.  thick,  carved  with  a  beautiful  spiral  (see 
No.  1 52). 

Although,  as  Dr.  Fr.  Schlie  thinks,  the  technical 
treatment  of  the  low-relief  of  all  these  stelae  may  not 
be  vastly  different  from  a  whole  series  of  archaic  reliefs 
of  ancient  Greek  art,  yet  such  figures  and  such  an  orna- 
mentation have  never  been  found  yet  on  Greek  sculp- 
tures. The  stelae  of  Mycenae  are,  therefore,  unique  in 
their  kind.  It  is  true  that  the  manner  of  filling  up  with 
manifold  beautiful  spiral  ornaments  the  space  not  covered 
by  the  forms  of  men  and  animals  reminds  us  of  the  prin- 
ciples of  the  painting  on  the  so-called  orientalizing  va:es. 


13 


98 


EXCAVATIONS  IN  THE  CITADEL.         [Chap.  IV. 


But  nowhere  do  we  see  on  the  sculptures  of  Mycenae  the 
ornamentation  of  plants,  which  is  so  characteristic  of  this 
class  of  ancient  Greek  representations.  The  whole  style  is 
rather  a  linear  ornamentation  with  forms  in  powerful  low- 
relief,  and  herein  we  obtain  an  interesting  guide  to  that 
epoch  in  the  development  of  Greek  art,  which  preceded  the 
so-called  Gracco-Phenician  period,  that  is  the  time  when 


Nos.  152,  153,  154.    Fragments  of  Friezes.    Size  1  :  5,  about.* 


its  course  was  determined  by  oriental  influences.  The 
beginning  of  this  latter  period  Mr.  Newton  fixes  with 
certainty  not  later  than  B.C.  800.  But  these  Mycenean 
representations,  which  are  decorated  exclusively  with  linear 
ornamentation  in  relief,  are  again  remarkable  because  we 
see  in  them  living  beings  such  as  man,  the  horse,  the  dog, 


*  The  frieze,  No.  153,  is  described,  and  its  broad  face  shown  on 
p.  140,  No.  216  ;  the  fragment  No.  154  is  described  on  p.  121. 


1876.]  STYLE  OF  THE  SCULPTURES.  99 

and  the  deer,  which  are  not  reduced  to  a  more  or  less 
linear  design,  such  as  those  on  the  Trojan  whorls,*  but 
which  are  given,  though  rudely,  and  in  a  puerile  way,  in 
full  bodily  form,  precisely  as  the  nature  of  the  relief 
requires. 

These  reflections  lead  us  to  the  conviction  that  the 
Mycenean  reliefs  must  be  brought  into  relation  with  the 
ancient  architecture  of  Mycenae.  Let  us  compare  with 
them  only  the  preserved  remnants  of  the  ornamentation  of 
the  gateway  of  the  "Treasury  of  Atreus"  and  its  semi- 
column,  as  restored  by  Professor  Donaldson.f  Therefore  if 
cannot  appear  an  unfounded  assumption,  if  we  claim  for 
these  ancient  monuments  the  middle  of  the  second  millen- 
nium B.C.,  and  if  we  insert  them  for  the  future  as  an 
important  link  into  the  history  of  art.  As  Mr.  A.  S. 
Murray,  of  the  British  Museum,  justly  observed  to  me, 
the  spiral  ornamentation  is  no  proof  whatever  of  an  orien- 
talizing influence,  because  every  wire  must  have  given  to 
the  early  artist  the  idea  of  the  spiral  ornamentation ;  nay, 
we  find  the  spiral  ornamentation  even  on  the  ancient 
Mexican  and  Peruvian  monuments. 

Close  to  the  twelve  small  reservoirs  on  the  north  side 
of  my  second  trench,  is  a  Cyclopean  house  without 
a  roof,  which  even  now  is  on  its  south  side  24  ft.  high. 
It  contains  only  one  chamber,  17  ft.  long  and  94  ft. 
broad  ;  its  east  wall  is  3  ft.  4  in.,  and  its  west  wall  3  ft., 
thick.  On  the  south  side  it  has  two  walls,  the  inner  one 
3  ft.  4  in.,  the  outer  one  3  ft.  8  in.,  thick  ;  against  its  north 
wall,  which  is  3  ft.  thick,  leans  another,  6\  ft.  thick;  and 
thus  the  passage  of  the  door,  which  is  on  this  side,  is  not 
less  than  ft-  long.  I  excavated  in  this  house,  and  found 
it  filled  with  ashes  both  of  wood  and  of  animal  matter, 
intermixed  with  bones,  particularly  of  swine,  and  with 


*  See  '  Troy  and  its  Remains,'  Plates  xxvii-xxxi. 
t  See  supplementary  volume  to  Stuart's  '  Athens.' 


IOO 


EXCAVATIONS  IN  THE  CITADEL. 


[Chap.  IV. 


millions  of  fragments  of  painted  archaic  vases.  But  I  found 
nothing  worth  mentioning,  except  a  certain  quantity  of 
baked  wheat  and  vetches,  a  weight  of  jasper  with  a  perfo- 
rated handle  for  suspension  (No.  155),  some  well-preserved 
archaic  vases,  the  fragment  (No.  156)  of  a  vase  with  sieve- 
like perforations,  and  a  certain  number  of  whorls  of  blue 
stone.  One  of  these  vases  is  particularly  interesting  for  its 
painted  ornamentation,  showing  two  swans,  which  hold 
their  heads  together,  much  like  the  two  eagles  in  the 
Russian  arms. 


No.  155.    A  Jasper  Weight,  with  a  hole  for  suspension,    (si  M.}    Actual  size. 

I  have  not  been  more  lucky  with  the  twelve  small 
reservoirs  formed  of  four  large  slabs,  for  they  contain 
nothing  else  than  the  remnants  of  household  utensils,  and 
particularly  fragments  of  archaic  vases. 

The  four  sculptured  and  five  unsculptured  sepulchral 
slabs  undoubtedly  mark  the  sites  of  tombs  cut  deep  in  the 
rock,  the  exploration  of  which,  however,  I  must  needs  delay 
until  I  have  terminated  all  my  excavations  in  the  northern 
part  of  the  Acropolis. 

The  presence  of  these  numerous  sepulchres  near  the 


1876.]  TOMBS  IN  THE  ACROPOLIS.  IOl 

Lions'  Gate,  and  thus  in  the  most  prominent  part  of  the 
citadel,  in  a  place  where  one  would  have  expected  to 
find  the  king's  palace,  is  very  significant ;  the  more  so,  as 
the  slabs  of  the  two  parallel  rows  perfectly  resemble  the 
five  unsculptured  tombstones  and  the  slabs  of  the  twelve 
small  reservoirs,  and  all  these  monuments  appear  to  have 
been  erected  simultaneously. 

I  know  of  no  example  in  history  of  an  acropolis  having 
ever  served  as  a  burial  place,  except  the  small  building  of 
the  Caryatides  in  the  Acropolis  of  Athens,  which  was  called 


No.  156.    Fragment  of  a  perforated  Tcrra-cotta  Vase,    (it  M.|    Actual  size. 

the  Sepulchre  of  Cecrops,  the  first  king  of  Athens.  But 
we  now  know  with  certainty  that  Cecrops  is  nothing  else 
than  Kacyapa  or  Cacyapa,  who  was  a  sun-god,  and  thus 
the  story  of  Cecrops  having  been  buried  in  the  Acropolis  is 
a  pure  myth.  But  here  in  the  Acropolis  of  Mycenae  the 
tombs  are  no  myth,  they  are  a  tangible  reality.  But  who 
have  the  great  personages  been,  and  what  immense  services 
did  they  render  to  Mycenae,  to  have  received  the  signal 
honour  of  such  a  burial  place  ? 

I  do  not  for  a  moment  hesitate  to  proclaim  that  I  have 


102 


EXCAVATIONS  IN  THE  CITADEL.        [Chap.  IV. 


found  here  the  sepulchres  which  Pausanias,  following  the 
tradition,  attributes  to  Atreus,  to  the  "  king  of  men  "  Aga- 
memnon, to  his  charioteer  Eurymedon,  to  Cassandra,  and 
to  their  companions.  But  it  is  utterly  impossible  that 
Pausanias  should  have  seen  these  tombstones,  because, 
when  he  visited  Mycenae,  about  170  a.d.,  all  the 
sepulchral  monuments  had  for  ages  been  covered  by 
a  layer  of  pre-historic  debris,  from  8  to  10  ft.  thick, 
on  which  an  Hellenic  city  had  been  built  and  had  again 
been  abandoned  about  four  centuries  before  his  time, 
after  having  added  a  layer  of  Hellenic  ruins,  3  ft.  thick, 
to  the  deep  stratum  of  prehistoric  remains.  Thus  he 
could  only  have  known  of  the  existence  of  these  sepulchres 
by  tradition. 

In  the  Treasury  close  to  the  Lions'  Gate  the  work  ad- 
vances but  very  slowly,  the  soil  being  as  hard  as  stone,  and 
only  to-day  has  my  trench  reached  a  sufficient  depth  to 
enable  me  to  begin  the  excavation  of  the  triangular  space 
above  the  door.  My  supposition  that  this  Treasury  would 
turn  out  to  be  nearly  of  the  same  size  as  the  Treasury  of 
Atreus  seems  to  be  confirmed  by  the  width  of  the 
approach  ("  dromos "),  which  is  in  the  latter  20  ft.  7  in.,  in 
the  former  19  ft.  8  in.,  broad. 

These  conical  buildings,  50  ft.  high,  were  constructed 
under  the  slope  of  a  hill,  and  were  destined  to  remain  subter- 
ranean: for,  as  before  stated,  the  outside  surface  of  the  stones 
is  quite  irregular,  and  the  whole  building  is  covered  all 
round  with  a  thick  layer  of  stones,  the  weight  of  which 
holds  the  masonry  fast  together.  I  feel  certain  that  the 
tradition  is  correct  which  says  that  these  mysterious  build- 
ings served  as  the  store-houses  of  the  wealth  of  the  early 
kings ;  but  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  as  long  as  they 
served  as  treasuries  the  "  dromos "  and  the  entrance  gate 
were  unobstructed,  and  the  great  question,  therefore,  arises, 
why  and  when  were  the  "  dromos "  and  the  gate  hidden 
under  the  tremendous  masses  of  debris  f 


1876.] 


GEOMETRICALLY  PAINTED  POTTERY. 


103 


It  has  been  asserted  that  they  were  buried  at  the  time  of 
the  Dorian  invasion ;  but  did  the  excavation  of  the  Treasury 
of  Atreus  in  1810  by  Veli  Pasha,  the  son  of  Ali  Pasha, 
produce  anything  else 
than  a  stone  table,  a 
few  sculptured  slabs, 
and  fragments  of 
brazen  plates  ?  and 
was  it  worth  while  to 
bury  empty  treasuries? 
But  it  is  a  fact  that 
they  were  buried,  and, 
as  to  the  chronology 
of  the  event,  the 
pottery  in  the  layer  of 
debris,  which  covers 
the  "dromos"  of  each, 
gives  us  fortunately 
some  clue,  for  I  find 
there  continually  very 
ancient  painted  pottery 
with  geometrical  patterns,  resembling  the  Attic  vases  which 
until  now  have  been  considered  as  the  most  ancient  terra- 
cottas in  Greece ;  as  well  as 
very  rude  terra-cotta  idols 
of  Hera  in  the  female  and 
cow  forms.  The  style  of  the 
pottery  is  seen  in  the  an- 
nexed piece  (No.  15  7),  which 
shows  to  the  right  oi  the 
handle  a  Pj-J  of  which  only 
part  is  visible,  and  then 
follows  a  row  of  the  fre- 
quently recurring  animal  in 

form  of  a  crane,  but  which  may  have  been  intended  to 
represent  a  horse,  and  after  that  follows  a  beautiful  band 


No.  157.  Piece  of  a  Painted  Vue,  from  the  "dromos"  of 
the  Treasury  near  the  Lions'  Gate,  (ar  M.)  Half-size. 


No.  is8. 
the  ' 


Fragment  of  the  same  Pottery  from 

dromos."    (5  M.)  Half-size. 


104  EXCAVATIONS  IN  THE  CITADEL.         [Chap.  IV. 

of  key- patterns.  On  another  fragment  (No.  158)  is 
only  a  row  of  the  same  birds  or  horses  between  two 
bands,  each  of  three  parallel  circular  lines ;  also  a  small 
can,  ornamented  with  vertical  lines,  was  found  there.  Of 
course  it  is  perfectly  certain  that  the  dibris  which  covers 
the  entrance  has  been  brought  there  from  other  places, 
but  as  it  contains  solely  fragments  of  very  ancient  painted 
terra-cottas  nearly  all  of  them  with  geometrical  patterns, 


No.  159.    Idol  of  Terra-cotta.  with  a  Cow's  head,  on  the  handle  of  a  Vase.    (4  M.)    Actual  size. 

the  filling-up  of  the  entrance  must  have  been  already 
effected  in  a  remote  antiquity,  and  the  Treasury  itself 
is  doubtless  more  ancient  than  the  Treasury  of  Atreus. 

Of  the  idols  found  in  the  "  dronios"  before  the  Treasury 
now  in  question  the  most  ancient  Hera-idols,  in  the  shape 


1876.] 


HERA-IDOLS  COMMON  IN  ACROPOLIS. 


I05 


of  a  woman,  are  very  rudely  made,  sometimes  without  painted 
ornaments,  and  they  have  a  head  either  oblong  or  round,  with 
or  without  a  diadem,  and  large  eyes.  Some  are  with  breasts, 
others  without ;  the  hands  are  either  protruding  or  folded 
on  the  breast.  To  the  same  epoch  no  doubt  belong  the 
female  idols  with  a  very 
compressed  bare  head, 
large  eyes,  out-stretched 
hands,  and  no  breasts  ;  or 
with  two  breasts,  below 
which  a  horn  protrudes 
on  each  side,  so  that  both 
horns  together  form  a 
semicircle  ;*  also  the  male 
idol,  with  its  head  orna- 
mented in  front  with  a 
diadem,  bearing  a  star,  a 
long  aquiline  nose,  large 
eyes,  and  a  long  protrud- 
ing beard  ;|  and  some 
very  archaic  cow  idols, 
with  painted  red  or  black 
ornamentation  (see  No. 
1 18,  p.  74)  ;  also  the 
fragment  of  a  vase  of 
granite,  and  a  small  female 
figure  in  silver  with  long 
hair. 

In  the  Acropolis  the  most  common  idols  are  those 
of  Hera  as  a  woman  with  horns  or  in  the  shape  of  a 
cow.  In  fact,  they  are  so  abundant  that  up  to  this  time  I 
have  been  able  to  gather  more  than  (say)  700  of  them,  but 
all  are  more  or  less  mutilated.  Among  the  forms  of  the  idols 
found  abundantly  in  the  Acropolis  I  must  further  mention 


No.  160.    Idol  of  Tcrra-cotta  with  a  Cow's  head, 
(a  M.)    Actual  size. 


*  See  No.  94. 


+  See  No.  106. 


106  EXCAVATIONS  IN  THE  CITADEL.         [Chap.  IV. 

that  with  a  round  uncovered  bird's  head,*  and  that  with 
a  very  compressed  head,  with  large  eyes,  and  a.  polos  in  the 
form  of  a  bowl,  on  which  is  often  painted  a  cross ;  both 
these  idols  hold  their  hands  on  the  breasts,  and  have  no 
characteristic  of  the  cow.|  I  may  further  mention  the 
very  frequently  occurring  idol,  the  whole  middle  part  of 
which  is  in  the  form,  or  nearly  so,  of  a  disk,J  and  which 


No.  161.    Cow-headed  Idols  of  Hera.    (1-5M,]  Half-size. 


may  have  been  intended  primitively  to  represent  the  full 
moon,  because  Hera  was  originally  the  moon-goddess,  and 
her  cow-horns,  and  subsequently  her  whole  cow-character, 
cannot  but  be  derived  from  the  symbolic  horns  of  the 
crescent  moon.  Lastly,  I  have  to  mention  the  less  frequent 
female  idol   with  a   perfectly  modelled   cow-head;  but 


*  See  No.  100. 


t  See  No.  101. 


%  See  Nos.  90-93. 


1876.]  COW-HEADS  ON  VASE-HANDLES.  107 

this  type  is  only  found  on  the  handles  of  vases,  and  the 
body  of  the  woman  is  always  incomplete,  never  reaching 
further  down  than  the  breast,  and  frequently  finishing 


No.  162.    The  two  faces  of  a  Granite  Mould  for  casting  various  Ornaments.    (4  M.)    Actual  size. 

with  the  neck,  on  which  the  necklace  is  never  forgotten.* 
By  a  strange  coincidence  the  three  or   four  terra-cotta 


*  See  Nos.  159,  160,  and  the  coloured  Plate  D,  figs,  n,  o,  p. 


io8 


EXCAVATIONS  IN  THE  CITADEL.        [Chap.  IV. 


cow-heads  found  in  Troy  were  likewise  on  the  handles  of 
vases.*  One  headless  Hera-idol  was  found,  with  two  well 
preserved  horns  and  two  breasts.  The  head  is  not  broken 
off,  for  it  was  never  intended  to  have  a  head.  I  may  also 
mention  that  many  perfectly  flat  idols  were  found,  showing 
on  each  side  a  head  with  a  long  muzzle  and  large  eyes  in 
profile,  but  no  indication  of  horns.    (See  No.  i6i.f) 

Except  the  button  with  a  gold  plate,  already  mentioned, 
no  objects  of  gold  or  silver  have  been  found  yet ;  but  that 
these  metals  were  in  extensive  use  cannot  be  doubted.  I 
found  a  mould  consisting,  according  to  Professor  Xavier 
Landerer,  of  very  fine  dark  red  granite ;  it  shows  on  both 
sides  together  fourteen  different  fanciful  types  of  earrings 
and  other  ornaments,  all  of  which  were  probably  cast  in 
gold  or  silver  (see  No.  162).  I  found  also  a  smaller 
mould,  which  consists,  according  to  the  same  Professor,  of 
basalt,  and  is  in  form  of  a  cube  (see  No.  163):  it  has  on 
all  the  six  sides  moulds  for  casting  ornaments,  of  which 
the  types  may  be  seen  in  the  engravings ;  amongst  others, 
it  has  a  type  for  casting  small  cones  with  parallel  horizontal 
circles,  of  which  I  find  here  a  large  number.  (See  No.  164.) 
They  consist  of  a  lustrous  blackish  mass,  which  Professor 
Landerer  has  analysed  and  found  to  consist  of  a  hard- 
baked  clay  which  has  been  varnished  with  a  lead  glaze. 
Mr.  Newton  also  kindly  showed  me,  among  the  objects 
found  in  the  tomb  at  Ialysus,  very  small  cones  with  parallel 
horizontal  circles  of  the  very  same  composition  as  these 
Mycenean  cones.  I  also  very  frequently  find  here  small 
disks  of  the  same  composition,  with  impressed  flowers  or 
other  ornamentation,  which  must  have  served  as  ornaments 


*  See  '  Troy  and  its  Remains,'  p.  294. 

t  I  call  particular  attention  to  the  Egyptian  sepulchral  paintings 
published  by  Mr.  G.  A.  Hoskins  in  his  '  Travels  in  Ethiopia  and  Upper 
Egypt,'  where  we  see  among  the  offerings  some  vases  from  which 
similar  heads  look  out. 


1876.]  ORNAMENTS  OF  GLAZED  CLAY.  109 

on  the  doors  or  elsewhere  (No.  165),  and  these  also  figure 
in  the  British  Museum  among  the  objects  from  the  tomb 


No.  163.    Four  faces  of  a  six-sided  Mould  of  Basalt.    (5  M.)    Actual  size. 


of  ialysus.  The  quadrangular  piece  (No.  166),  on  which 
may  be  seen  a  very  well-represented  cuttle-fish  between  two 


Nos.  164,  165,  166.    Ornaments  of  Glazed  Clay.    (3-4  M.)    Actual  size. 


vertical  borders  with  teeth-like  cuts,  has  four  perforations 
for  attaching  it  with  pins.    As  I  have  already  mentioned, 


HO  EXCAVATIONS  IN  THE  CITADEL.        [Chap.  IV. 

the  object  No.  167,  which  has  the  form  of  a  mushroom, 
but  a  perforation  in  its  whole  length,  is  of  the  same 
material ;  this  also  must  have  served  as  an  ornament, 
while  the  whole  tube-like  lower  part  was  sunk  into  the 
object  which  was  to  be  ornamented,  so  that  the  head 
alone  protruded,  and  may  have  served  to  put  in  a  flower 
or  something  else.  Of  the  same  baked  clay  with  a  var- 
nished lead  glaze  there  was  further  found  a  large  perforated 
bead  (No.  168). 


Nos.  167,  168,  169.    Ornaments  of  Glazed  Clay.    (3-4  M.)    Actual  size. 


I  also  very  often  find  small  objects  in  the  form  of  a 
cone  or  with  points  more  obtuse,  and  in  this  case  perforated  ; 
they  are  turned  from  a  mineral,  which,  according  to  Professor 
Landerer,  is  the  Siphnian  stone  {lapis  ollaris),  commonly 
called  potstone.  The  same  scholar  calls  my  attention  to  a 
passage  of  Pliny,  who  says  :  "  On  the  island  of  Siphnos  there 
is  a  stone  which  is  hollowed  out  and  turned  for  vases ;  these 
latter  are  very  useful  for  cooking  victuals  or  for  the  pre- 
servation of  eatables,  which,  as  we  know,  is  the  case  with 
the  Comnes  stone  in  Italy.  The  Siphnian  stone  has  the 
peculiarity  that,  being  heated,  it  becomes  black  by  the 
contact  of  oil  and  much  harder,  it  being  naturally  soft.  It 
can  be  turned  and  used  for  ornaments."  The  small  cones 
of  this  stone  have  in  the  lower  border  two  small  holes  on 
either  side,  which  must  have  been  made  for  the  pins  by 
which  the  object  was  fastened.  A  likeness  of  such  a 
cone  is  No.  172;  of  another  object  of  the  same  material, 
No.  169.  The  curious  object,  No.  171,  which  has  almost 
the  form  of  a  Trojan  idol,  is  of  decomposed  glass,  but  its 
use  is  inexplicable  to  me  ;  it  has  on  its  lower  side  a  tubular 


1876.]  VARIOUS  ORNAMENTS.  nr 

hole  for  fastening  it  to  something  else,  and  may  have 
served  as  an  ornament.    The  little  ball,  No.  170,  on  which 


Nos.  170,  171,  17a.   Ornaments  of  Glazed  Clay,  &c.    (3-4  m.)    Actual  size. 


we  see  curious  incised  drawings,  is  of  very  hard  baked 
clay.  I  also  find  very  frequently  button-like  objects,  like 
those  already  shown  under  No.  126,*  which,  according 
to  Professor  Landerer,  have  been  turned  oui  of  a  stone 
called  "lapis  serpentinus."  I  cannot  explain  the  use  of 
them  otherwise  than  that  they  have  served  as  ornaments 
in  the  doors  and  on  the  walls,  like  No.  167.  There  was 
also  found  a  large  perforated  bead  of  white  glass,  and 
further  a  large  block  of  diorite,  with  circular  moulds  for 
casting  various  objects. 

A  treasure  of  bronze  objects  was  found  at  a  depth  of 
13  feet.  It  consists  of  five  knives  (like  Nos.  121-125),! 
two  small  wheels  and  an  inexplicable  object  with  a  ring,| 
two  lances,  two  double-edged  hatchets  (No.  173),  hair- 


1 11 


EXCAVATIONS  IN  THE  CITADEL.        [Chap.  IV. 


pins,  two  vases,  and  remnants  of  four  others,  and  a  tripod. 
It  is  incomprehensible  to  me  for  what  purpose  the  wheels 
may  have  served ;  they  can  never  have  been  intended  for 
rotation,  for,  as  may  be  seen  by  the  engraving,*  there  is 
attached  to  them  a  quadrangular  handle,  which  proves  that 
they  can  never  have  been  turned  round.  From  one  of  the 
wheels  f  this  handle  is  broken  off ;  as  for  the  rest,  the 
wheels  perfectly  resemble  those  represented  on  the  chariots 
in  the  sculptures,  for  there  are  four  spokes,  which  form  a 
cross  round  the  axle.  Also  two  very  small  and  exceedingly 
curious  wheels  of  lead  were  found,  the  one  at  the  depth  of 
ii  ft.  8  in.,  the  other  at  i6i  ft. J 

There  were  also  found  a  certain  number  of  lentoid  gems 
of  steatite,  onyx,  or  agate,  polished,  nearly  round,  and 


Nos.  174-181.    Lentoid  Gems.    (4-7  M.)    Actual  size. 


somewhat  convex,  with  intaglios  of  animals,  which  are  very 
archaic,  but  show  in  several  instances  an  advanced  art ;  all 
of  these  have  evidently  belonged  to  necklaces.  No.  176 
is  of  steatite  {lapis  ollaris) ;  it  gives  us  a  very  rude  and 
primitive  representation  of  an  animal  with  a  very  long  tail, 


*  See  under  No.  120,  p.  74.  t  Ibid. 

%  Also  engraved  under  No.  120.  I  here  again  call  particular  atten- 
tion to  the  fact,  that  the  depth  in  which  each  object  has  been  found  is 
always  marked  in  metres  below  each  object  in  the  engravings. 


1 876.] 


LENTOID  GEMS. 


"3 


long  legs,  and  a  pointed  head,  which  is  turned  backward, 
and  on  which  we  see  a  horn  standing  vertically:  probably 
we  must  understand  that  this  horn  covers  the  second  horn : 
the  body  of  the  animal  resembles  the  body  of  a  horse,  the 
head  that  of  an  antelope.  No.  178  is  of  red  agate,  and 
this  also  gives  a  rude  representation  of  an  animal  with  its 
head  turned  backward ;  above  its  hinder  part  is  a  trident, 
and  it  is  difficult  to  distinguish  whether  the  primitive 
artist  intended  to  represent  by  this 
the  animal's  uplifted  tail  or  some- 
thing else.  The  most  beautiful  of 
all  the  intaglios  is  of  red  onyx 
(No.  174),  showing  an  antelope 
perfectly  true  to  nature.  Both 
horns  are  well  represented,  and  the 
head  and  body  are  beautiful  ;  the 
animal  seems  to  kneel  on  its  two 
fore-legs ;  the  tail  is  lifted  sideways 
above  the  back.  I  call  particular  attention  to  the  object 
above  the  back  of  this  animal ;  it  looks  like  an  overturned 
flower-pot,  with  a  long  plant  lying  horizontally.  The  object 
on  the  lentoid  gem  (No.  183)  cannot  be  recognised;  this 
gem  consists  of  serpentine.  On  No.  184,  which  is  of  black 
agate,  we  again  see  a  very  rudely-engraved  animal  with  the 
head  turned  back,  but  without  horns.    No.  185  is  a  bead. 


185 


No.  182-185.    Lentoid  Gems  and  1 
bead.    (3-6  m.)    Size  3  :  4. 


Q 

.8) 


Nos.  18C-189.    Lentoid  Gem,  cylinder  and  beads.    (3-6  M.)    Size  3:4. 

Another  beautiful  intaglio  (No.  1 86),  on  black  serpen- 
tine, represents  an  animal  with  the  head  turned  back  and 
very  large  eyes ;  it  seems  to  run  with  great  speed.  The 


'5 


ii4 


EXCAVATIONS  IN  THE  CITADEL.         [Chap.  IV. 


object  No.  189  is  also  of  black  serpentine,  and  has  no 
intaglio.  Similar  lentoid  gems,  with  rudely-incised  animals, 
found  in  the  Greek  islands,  are  in  the  gold  room  of 
the  British  Museum,  and  I  call  particular  attention  to 
them,  as  well  as  to  the  lentoid  gem  of  rock  crystal,  repre- 
senting in  intaglio  a  goat,  which  turns  her  head.  This 
gem,  again,  was  found  in  the  repeatedly-mentioned 
sepulchre  of  Ialysus,  and  is  also  in  the  British  Museum. 
Very  pretty  is  the  small  parallelopiped  (No.  182),  likewise 
of  serpentine,  ornamented  on  two  sides  with  fourteen 
lines  which  cross  each  other,  and  on  the  other  two  sides 
with  two  incised  squares,  in  each  of  which  we  see  a  small 
circle  with  a  point  in  the  centre.  No.  187  represents 
a  light  green  cylinder  of  opal,  on  which  a  human  head 
is  rudely  carved,  with  closed  eyes,  a  very  broad  nose,  a 
large  mouth,  and  a  necklace,  and  very  much  in  the  ancient 
Egyptian  style  of  art.  It  is  cylindrical,  and  has  no  hole, 
and  it  seems  therefore  not  to  have  served  as  a  stick-handle. 
No.  188  is  a  bead  of  white  glass  ;  No.  180  is  an  object  of 
blue  glass  cast  in  the  form  of  a  long  but  narrow  mussel- 
shell,  surrounded  by  horizontal  parallel  cuts ;  it  is  coloured 
with  cobalt;  No.  179  is  a  small  bead  of  blue  glass  twice 
perforated.  There  is  also  a  well-polished  brown  onyx, 
without  any  intaglio,  and  it  deserves  attention  that  a 
similar  one  was  found  in  the  tomb  of  Ialysus.  No.  181  is 
of  an  artificial  glass  paste.  I  repeat  that,  with  the  exception 
of  Nos.  175,  180,  187,  all  these  objects  are  perforated  and 
are  beads  or  lentoid  gems  of  necklaces. 

Of  combinations  of  signs  resembling  inscriptions,  I 
have  hitherto  only  found  three  or  four ;  one  of  them  is  on 
both  sides  of  a  mutilated  Hera-idol  in  the  form  of  a  woman 
(see  No.  102) ;  another  inscription  is  on  a  mutilated  cow- 
idol  *  ;  and  a  third  is  on  a  disk  (No.  190).  Of  all  of  them 
I  have  sent  copies  to  Professor  Max  Miiller,  who  considers 


*  See  the  Coloured  Plate  B,  fig.  g. 


1876.]  INSCRIPTIONS  AT  MYCENyE.  115 

them  too  indistinct  and  fragmentary  to  warrant  any  expres- 
sion of  opinion  for  the  present. 


No.  190.  A  Disc  of  Terra- Cotta,  with  an  uncertain  appearance  of  an  Inscription.   (5  M.)   Actual  size. 


I  found  at  a  depth  of  6  feet  a  short  Greek  inscription  : 

T°  B  E  l?°  °  |  jEM 

for  which,  however,  I  cannot  claim  a  higher  antiquity  than 
the  6th  century  b.c.  ;  in  fact,  the  fragment  of  a  vase  on 
which  it  is  scratched  is  of  the  usual  black  Hellenic  pot- 
tery, which  is  so  widely  different  from  the  archaic  pottery 
of  Mycenae  that  I  could  not  venture  to  attribute  it  to  a 
remoter  epoch  than  the  5th  century,  were  it  not  for  the 
archaic  characters  which  are  decidedly  of  the  6th  century. 
But  this  fragment  of  black  pottery  again  gives  us  an  idea 
of  the  age  of  the  ancient  Mycenean  pottery.  I  suppose 
that  the  first  O  stands  for  OY,  the  second  O  for  n,  and 
that  the  sign  J  is  merely  a  comma.  I  read  it  thus :  tov 
r)pu)6<;  eZ/x(i),  "  I  am  sprung  from  the  hero." 

Besides  the  goblets  already  mentioned  in  the  form  of  large 
Bordeaux  wine-glasses  with  one  handle,*  which  continue  to 
be  found  in  enormous  quantities,  there  are  also  frequently 
found  goblets  of  the  same  form  with  two  handles.  Although 
these  goblets  have  not  the  slightest  resemblance  to  the 


*  See  Nos.  83,  84,  88,  pp.  70,  71. 


Il6  EXCAVATIONS  IN  THE  CITADEL.        [Chap.  IV. 

splendid  Trojan  goblets,*  yet,  like  the  latter,  those  with  two 
handles  can  fully  claim  to  represent  the  Homeric  SeVas 
afi(f)LKVTTeX\ov.  I  think  Aristotle  f  is  wrong  in  his  theory 
that  the  djx^iKVTreWov  had  the  shape  of  a  bee's  cell.  The 
best  judge,  nay,  the  highest  authority,  for  the  form  of  the 
Homeric  SeVas  afj.(f>LKVTreWov  must  necessarily  be  Homer 
himself ;  and  according  to  him  the  SeVas  d/x^LKvireWou  is 
always  synonymous  with  aktLcrov  a^ij)0)TovX  which  latter 
cannot  possibly  mean  anything  else  than  a  simple  goblet 
with  a  large  handle  on  each  side.  In  speaking  of  the  shape 
of  the  Homeric  SeVa?  afx^LKvireXkov,  Athenasus  ^  does  not 
even  mention  the  opinion  of  Aristotle,  but  he  cites  the 
opinion  of  Asclepiades  of  Myrlea,  who  says  that  a/A<£i- 
KvireWov  does  not  mean  anything  else  than  that  the  goblet 
is  dficjiLKvpToi'.  But  the  following  phrase  leaves  no  doubt 
that  the  latter  word  signifies  "  with  two  handles,"  and  this  is 
confirmed  by  Passow's  Greek  Lexicon  (ed.  Rost  and  Palm). 

As  far  as  my  excavations  have  proceeded,  I  nowhere  find 
an  accumulation  of  debris  exceeding  2,6  ft. ;  and  even  this 
depth  is  only  found  near  the  great  circuit  wall.  Thence 
the  rock  rises  rapidly,  and  further  on  the  depth  of  the 
dibris  is  not  more  than  from  13  to  20  ft.  On  the  west 
side  the  Cyclopean  wall  has  been  nearly  demolished  for 
a  distance  of  46  ft.,  and  on  its  interior  side  a  wall  of 
small  stones  joined  with  earth  has  been  built  to  sustain  its 
ruins.  It  must  remain  mere  guesswork  when  the  Cyclo- 
pean wall  was  destroyed  and  the  small  wall  built,  but  at  all 
events  this  must  have  occurred  long  before  the  capture  of 
Mycenas  by  the  Argives  in  468  b.c,  because  the  small  wall 
was  buried  deep  in  the  prehistoric  dSbris. 

The  great  quarry,  whence  all  the  stones  for  the  Cyclo- 
pean walls,  the  Treasuries,  and  other  buildings,  were  cut,  is 
on  the  site  of  and  around  the  village  of  Charvati,  a  little 

*  See  '  Troy  and  its  Remains,'  p.  158. 
+  Hist.  Ani?tial.  IX.  40. 

%  See  Od.  III.  41,  46,  50  and  63,  and  XXII.  9,  10,  86. 

§  A.(Lirvocro(f)i(TTai,  783. 


1876.] 


THE  QUARRY  AT  CHARVATI. 


M7 


over  a  mile  from  this  place ;  but  the  rock  has  in  no  instance 
been  cut  away  deeper  than  the  surface.  I  give  a  view  of 
this  village,  in  which  the  greater  part  of  the  ancient 
quarry  is  visible.*  The  name  Charvati  is  no  doubt  derived 
from  the  Arabic  word  ^__>^  (ruins),  which  has  passed  over 
into  the  Turkish  language. 

Mrs.  Schliemann  and  I  superintend  the  excavations 
from  morning  tili  dusk,  and  we  suffer  severely  from  the 
scorching  sun  and  incessant  tempest,  which  blows  the 
dust  into  the  eyes  and  inflames  them ;  but  in  spite  of  these 
annoyances,  nothing  more  interesting  can  be  imagined  than 
the  excavation  of  a  prehistoric  city  of  immortal  glory, 
where  nearly  every  object,  even  to  the  fragments  of  pottery, 
reveals  a  new  page  of  history. 


it  a 


A  It 

No.  190.1.    Pattern  of  the  Slaus,  FORMING  the  Double  Pakallki  Circle  enclosing 

the  Agora. 


A.  One  of  the  Vertical  inner  and  outer  slabs,  both  being  inclined  inwards,  towards  the  enclosed 
space  of  the  Agora,  at  an  angle  of  750. 

IJ.  One  of  the  cross  slabs,  with  the  tenons,  b,  b,  to  drop  into  the  notches  a,  <t. 

N.H. — The  slabs  are  not  all  of  the  dimensions  here  shown,  but  vary  in  size  in  different  parts  of  the 
circle.    (See  p.  124.) 

The  slabs  of  the  double  circle,  which  serves  both  as  the  enclosure  of  the  Agora  and  for  its  benches, 
are  in  a  slanting  position  from  the  entrance  on  the  north  side  all  along  the  east  side  until  a  few  yards 
before  the  point  tut  the  south  side  where  tlie  double  circle  passes  from  the  rock  on  to  the  wall  which 
supports  it  in  the  lower  part  of  the  Acropolis.  At  this  point  the  slabs  have  the  maximum  size,  which 
seems  to  have  been  maintained  by  all  the  slabs  which  stood  on  the  supporting  wall,  and  winch  have 
now  nearly  all  fallen  ;  but  their  inclination  can  be  recognize  I  by  observing  UlOM  still  standing  on  the 
north-west  side  of  the  circle.  On  the  north,  on  both  sidvs  of  the  entrance,  where  the  Agora  isbordcrcd 
by  those  tomb-like  recesses  in  which  we  have  recognized  small  reservoirs,  the  slabs  of  these  recesses  are 
of  necessity  all  perpendicular,  because,  had  they  been  slanting,  they  would  not  have  sustained  the 
pressure  of  the  water. 


*  See  Vignette  to  Chapter  V.  p,  118. 


No.  igi.    The  Village  of  Charvati,  with  the  ancient  Quarry  ol  Mycenae. 


CHAPTER  V. 
Excavations  in  and  near  the  Acropolis — continued. 

THE  LIONS'  GATE  AND  THE  AGORA. 

The  Treasury  excavated  by  Mrs.  Schliemann — Older  and  less  sumptuous 
than  that  of  Atreus  —  The  entrance,  its  ornaments  —  Archaic 
pottery  found  in  the  passage  —  Necklace  beads  —  Fragment  of  a 
marble  frieze  —  Threshold  of  the  Lions'  Gate  —  The  great  double 
row  of  parallel  slabs,  probably  not  of  a  remote  antiquity  —  The 
Acropolis  only  partly  accessible  to  chariots  —  The  gateway  double, 
like  the  Scaean  Gate  at  Troy  —  Corridors  of  Cyclopean  house- 
walls  —  Hera-idols  and  arrow-heads  of  bronze  and  iron  —  Door- 
keeper's lodge  —  Retaining  walls  —  Tower  of  the  Acropolis  resting 
on  a  massive  wall — The  double  circle  of  slabs  formed  the  enclosure 
of  the  royal  tombs  and  the  Agora — Arguments  in  proof  of  this  view 
— Objects  of  interest  found  there— A  vast  Cyclopean  house  with 
cisterns  and  water  conduit,  probably  the  ancient  Royal  Palace — 
The  spring  Perseia — No  windows  in  the  house — Objects  of  art  and 
luxury  found  there— An  onyx  seal-ring— Vase-paintings  of  mail-clad 
warriors — Hand-made  pottery  in  the  Acropolis. 

Mycenas,  Sept.  30,  1876. 

Since  the  9th  inst.  I  have  continued  the  excavations  with 
the  greatest  energy,  employing  constantly  125  workmen 


Ch.  V.  1876.]  MRS.  SCHLIEMANN'S  TREASURY.  119 

and  five  horse-carts,  and  the  weather  being  beautiful  I 
have  made  excellent  progress.  In  the  Treasury,  in  which 
Mrs.  Schliemann  is  excavating,  we  work,  with  thirty 
labourers  and  two  horse-carts,  and  find  the  very  greatest 
difficulty  in  removing  the  hundreds  of  huge  wrought  stones 
which  have  fallen  from  the  vault. 

The  interior  walls  of  this  Treasury  have  never  been 
covered  with  brazen  plates  like  the  Treasury  of  Atreus  here 
and  the  Treasury  of  Minyas  in  Orchomcnus ;  at  least,  I 
see  nowhere  in  the  stones  the  holes  of  the  bronze  nails  by 
which  the  metal  plates  were  fastened  ;  but  I  cannot  avoid 
mentioning  that  on  the  inner  east  side  of  the  Treasury, 
there  protrudes  from  between  the  stones  the  fragment 
of  a  bronze  plate,  which  sticks  so  fast  that  it  cannot  be 
drawn  out ;  I  therefore  suppose  that  it  was  fastened  there 
when  the  Treasury  was  built.  It  appears  hardly  possible 
that  this  could  have  happened  merely  by  accident,  but  on 
the  other  hand  I  find  it  difficult  to  believe  that  this  bronze 
plate  could  be  a  remnant  of  an  ancient  wall-coating  of 
bronze  plates,  which  were  not  fastened  to  the  stones  with 
nails  but  were  attached  in  the  joints  between  them,  because 
in  this  case,  I  presume,  we  ought  to  find  remnants  of  those 
plates  in  many  places. 

This  Treasury  is  less  sumptuous,  and  appears  to  be 
more  ancient,  than  the  Treasury  of  Atreus  here,  or  the 
Treasury  of  Minyas  at  Orchomenus. 

The  entrance,  which  is  13  ft.  long  and  8  ft.  broad,  is 
roofed  with  four  slabs  i8£  ft.  in  length;  the  holes  for  the 
upper  door-hinges  are  5  in.  deep.  From  certain  traces  in  the 
walls  it  appears  that  the  entrance  has  been  ornamented  on 
the  right  and  left  with  two  semi-columns,  which  we  hope  to 
find  by  digging  deeper.  A  remnant  of  an  ornamentation 
with  semicircles  is  visible  on  the  slab  above  the  entrance, 
and  the  same  can  easily  be  distinguished  in  the  engraving 
of  the  Treasury.*    After  having  been  buried  for  ages  in 


*  See  the  Frontispiece,  Plate  V. 


1 20 


THE  LIONS'  GATE  AND  AGORA 


[Chap.  V. 


the  damp  debris,  the  large  wrought  stones  of  the  walls  of 
the  approach  {dromos)  and  of  the  facade  of  this  Treasury 
have  contracted  by  exposure  to  the  sun,  and,  as  may  be 
seen  from  the  engraving,  a  great  number  of  them  have 
crevices. 

As  in  the  Treasury  of  Atreus  and  in  the  Lions'  Gate, 
the  triangular  space  above  the  entrance  is  formed  by  an 
oblique  approximation  of  the  ends  of  the  courses  of  stone. 
On  all  three  sides  of  this  triangle  can  be  seen  cuttings, 
which  make  it  highly  probable  that  it  has  once  been  filled 
up  by  a  triangular  piece  of  sculpture  similar  to  that  above 
the  Lions'  Gate.* 

Among  the  archaic  pottery  found  in  the  "dromos" 
before  the  Treasury,  the  very  rudely  modelled  men  on 
horseback  holding  the  horse's  neck  with  both  hands,  of 
which  also  several  were  found  in  the  tomb  at  Ialysus, 
deserve  particular  attention ;  further,  the  fragments  of 
large  painted  vases  profusely  covered  with  an  ornamenta- 
tion of  key  patterns,  zigzag  lines,  stripes  of  ornaments  like 
fish-spines,  bands  with  very  primitive  representations  of 
cranes  or  swans,  or  circles  with  flowers,  and  occasionally 
with  the  sign  j-jj-t  Vases  with  such  geometrical  patterns 
are  sometimes  found  in  Athens,  and  have  hitherto  been 
universally  considered  to  be  the  most  ancient  pottery  of 
Attica,  but  I  perfectly  share  my  learned  friend  Mr.  Chas. 
T.  Newton's  opinion,  that  the  vases  with  geometrical 
patterns  are  later  than  all  the  different  sorts  of  terra- 
cottas found  in  the  five  Royal  tombs,  and  hereafter  to  be 
described.  Of  vases  with  other  patterns  I  have  found  but 
very  few  fragments.  Together  with  these  fragments  of 
pottery  there  was  found  part  of  a  necklace  with  a  large 
bead  of  white  glass  (No.  205),  two  beads  of  fluor-spar  of 
a  transparent  bluish,  and  three  of  a  red-bluish  colour,  all 
perforated  and  strung  on  a  thin  copper  wire  (Nos.  206, 


*  See  Plan  E,  which  shows  the  Plan  and  Sections  of  this  Treasury. 
+  See  the  examples  grouped  on  the  two  Plates,  Nos.  192-204. 


i876.] 


THRESHOLD  OF  THE  LIONS'  GATE. 


I  2  I 


207,  208,  209) ;  also  the  fragment  of  a  white  marble  frieze 
with  an  ornamentation.*    Just  above  the  lower  part  of 


Nos.  205-209.    Beads  of  Glass  and  Fluor-spar.    (4  H.j    Actual  size. 

the  "  dromos  "  are  the  foundations  of  an  Hellenic  house, 
apparently  of  the  Macedonian  period. 

The  Archaeological  Society  in  Athens  has  not  yet  sent 
an  engineer  to  consolidate  the  sculpture  above  the  Lions' 
Gate,  and  to  repair  the  Cyclopean  wall  close  to  it ;  but 
they  intend  still  to  do  so.  Meanwhile  they  have  allowed 
me  to  continue  the  excava- 
tions at  the  Lions'  Gate 
on  the  condition  that  I  leave 
to  the  right  and  left  of  it 
a  considerable  portion  of  the 
debris  in  si  hi  in  order  to 
facilitate  the  raising  of  the 
blocks  which  are  necessary 
for  the  repairs.  Therefore 
I  have  been  able  to  resume 
the  excavations  at  the  Lions' 
Gate,  and  I  have  brought  to 

light  its  enormous  threshold.  Two  exact  drawings  of  this 
are  appended.    It  consists  of  a  very  hard  block  of  breccia 


7 


No.  aio.    Threshold  of  the  Gate  of  Lions. 


See  No.  154,  p.  98. 


16 


122  EXCAVATIONS  IN  THE  ACROPOLIS.         [Chap.  V. 


1 5  ft.  long  and  8  ft.  broad.  The  ruts  caused  by  the  chariot- 
wheels,  of  which  all  guide  books  speak,  exist  only  in  the 
imagination  of  enthusiastic  travellers,  but  not  in  reality. 
The  immense  double  parallel  row  of  closely  joined  slabs, 
which  I  have  brought  to  light  in  close  proximity  to  the 
Lions'  Gate,  would  now  altogether  bar  the  access  of 
chariots  to  the  Acropolis.  But  as  I  cannot  ascribe  a  very 
remote  antiquity  to  the  wall  which  sustains  the  double  row 
of  slabs  in  the  lower  part  of  the  Acropolis,  so  neither  can  I 
claim  a  high  antiquity  for  the  circle  of  slabs  itself,  and  before 
its  erection  chariots  could  certainly  have  had  access  to  the 
Acropolis.  But  on  account  of  the  precipitous  slopes  of 
the  cliff,  it  is  impossible  that  chariots  should  ever  have 
penetrated  further  than  the  first  or  lowest  of  the  six  natural 
or  artificial  terraces.  Thus  it  is  obvious  that  chariots  were 
but  little  in  use  here,  and  that  beasts  of  burden,  horses, 
mules,  or  asses,  were  employed  in  their  stead.  No  doubt 
the  fifteen  small  straight  parallel  furrows,  which  are  cut 
all  along  the  surface  of  the  threshold  to  prevent  the  beasts 
of  burden  from  slipping,  might  have  been  mistaken  for  ruts 
of  chariot-wheels.  But  again,  the  threshold  having  been 
deeply  buried  in  the  debris  for  ages,  and  at  all  events  since 
the  capture  of  the  Acropolis  by  the  Argives  (468  B.C.),  no 
mortal  eye  can  have  seen  it  for  more  than  2300  years. 

There  is  a  quadrangular  hole,  1  ft.  3  in.  long  and  1  ft. 
broad,  in  the  middle  of  the  threshold,  where  the  two  doors 
of  the  gate  met.  The  threshold  further  shows  on  its 
east  side  a  straight  furrow,  artistically  cut,  1  ft.  broad,  and 
on  its  west  side  another  which  forms  a  curve.  Both  these 
seem  to  have  served  as  channels  for  rain  water,  the  rush  of 
which  must  ha\e  been  great,  the  threshold  being  lower  than 
the  natural  rock  forming  the  floor  of  the  passage,  which  rises 
gradually.  In  the  side  of  the  threshold  which  faces  the 
north  is  a  long  artificial  hole  of  a  peculiar  form,  which 
must  have  been  connected  with  the  gate  in  some  way  or 
other,  for  a  cutting  of  exactly  the  same  form  exists  in  the 


1876.]  A  CYCLOPEAN  HOUSE. 

large  flat  stone  in  the  middle  of  the  gate  at  Troy.  At 
a  distance  of  iii  ft.  from  the  threshold  on  either  side 
of  the  passage  there  is,  as  at  Troy,*  a  quadrangular  mass 
of  Cyclopean  masonry,  2  ft.  broad  and  high,  and  3  ft. 
long,  which  marks  the  site  of  a  second  gate  of  wood. 

Further  on  to  the  right  I  have  brought  to  light,  below 
the  foundations  of  an  Hellenic  house,  quite  a  labyrinth  of 
Cyclopean  house-walls,  forming  a  number  of  parallel  cor- 
ridors from  4  ft.  to  6h  ft.  broad,  filled  with  stones  and 
debris,  which  I  am  now  clearing  out.  One  of  the  cor- 
ridors leads  straight  into  the  Cyclopean  house  already 
described.f  In  several  places  the  walls  retain  traces  of 
their  clay-coating.  I  found  here  many  Ilera-idols,  also 
three  arrow-heads,  all  of  bronze;  two  have  barbs  (yXw^e?) ; 
the  third  has  the  form  of  a  pyramid,  like  the  Carthaginian 
arrows  which  I  found  last  year  in  my  excavations  in 
Motye  in  Sicily. 

To  the  left  of  the  entrance  is,  first,  the  small  chamber 
of  the  door-keeper,  and  then  follows  a  wall  of  huge  stones, 
intended  merely  to  sustain  the  masses  of  debris  (24  ft. 
to  26  ft.  high)  which  have  been  washed  down  from  the 
mount  in  the  course  of  ages.  Further  on,  in  the  same 
line,  is  a  Cyclopean  wall  (166  ft.  long  and  30  ft.  high) 
of  enormous  stones  joined  together  with  small  ones,  which, 
as  already  mentioned,  is  crowned  by  the  ruins  of  a  tower, 
and  gives  the  Acropolis  a  peculiarly  grand  aspect.;};  This 
wall  was  imbedded  from  10  ft.  to  12  ft.  deep  in  the  debris, 
and  has  now  been  brought  to  light  down  to  the  rock  on 
which  it  is  founded. 

My  supposition  that  the  double  parallel  row  of  large 
slabs  would  be  found  to  form  a  complete  circle  has  been 
proved  correct.    One-half  of  it  rests  on  the  wall  which  was 


*  See  the  Plan  of  the  Lions'  Gate,  No.  22,  p.  34.  Comp.  'Troy 
and  its  Remains,'  pp.  303,  321. 

+  Chapter  IV.  p.  99.  %  See  Plates  VI.  and  VII. 


THE  AGORA  IN  THE  ACROPOLIS.  [CHAP.  V. 


intended  to  support  it  in  the  lower  part  of  the  Acropolis,  the 
other  half  is  founded  on  the  higher  flat  rock,  and  touches 
the  foot  of  the  Cyclopean  wall  before  mentioned;  the 
entrance  to  it  is  from  the  north  side.* 

At  first  I  thought  that  the  space  between  the  two  rows 
might  have  served  for  libations  or  for  offerings  of  flowers  in 
honour  of  the  illustrious  dead.  But  I  now  find  this  to  be 
impossible,  because  the  double  row  of  slabs  was  originally 
covered  with  cross-slabs,  of  which  six  are  still  in  situ  ;  they 
are  firmly  fitted  in  and  consolidated  by  means  of  notches, 
\\  to  3^  in.  deep,  and  4  in.  broad,  in  the  upper  edges  of 
the  aslant  standing  slabs  of  the  two  parallel  rows,  which 
received  similar  projections  on  the  cross  stones,  forming  a 
mortice  and  tenon  joint.f  As  these  latter  exist  on  all 
the  slabs,  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  the  whole  circle  was 
originally  covered  in  the  same  way.  The  vertical  slabs 
are  from  4  ft.  2  in.  to  8  ft.  2  in.  long  and  1  ft.  8  in. 
to  4  ft.  broad,  and  the  largest  are  in  the  two  places 
where  the  double  row  descends  from  the  rock  to  the 
supporting  wall.  Inside,  there  is  first  a  layer  of  stones 
1  ft.  4  in.  thick,  for  the  purpose  of  holding  the  slabs  in 
their  place ;  the  remaining  space  is  filled  up  with  pure  earth 
mixed  with  long  thin  cockle  shells  in  the  places  where  the 
original  covering  remains  in  its  position,  or  with  household 
remains,  mixed  with  innumerable  fragments  of  archaic 
pottery  wherever  the  covering  is  missing.  This  circum- 
stance can  leave  no  doubt  that  the  cross  slabs  were  only 
removed  after  the  city  had  been  captured  and  deserted, 
because  all  the  fragments  of  archaic  pottery  must  necessarily 
have  been  washed  down  by  the  rain  from  the  five  natural 
or  artificial  upper  terraces  of  the  Acropolis,  and  this  can 
of  course  only  have  taken  place  after  Mycenae  had  been 
abandoned  by  its  inhabitants. 

It  must  be  particularly  observed  that  the  whole  arrange- 


*  See  Plan  C  and  Plates  VI.,  VII.     t  See  the  cut  No.  190a,  p.  117. 


Chap.  V.]          CIRCULAR  BENCH  OF  THE  AGORA.  125 

ment  of  slabs  slopes  inwards  at  an  angle  of  750;  so  that, 
the  ground  within  the  circle  being  raised,  as  just  described, 
the  horizontal  slabs  formed  a 
continuous  bench,  on  which 
people  could  sit,  looking  to- 
wards the  enclosure,  the  in- 
clination leaving  convenient 
room  for  the  feet,  as  is  the 
case  also  with  the  stone  seats 
for  the  priests  in  the  theatre 
of  Dionysus  at  Athens. 

My  esteemed  friend,  Pro- 
fessor F.  A.  Pale)-,  has  been 
the  first  to  advance  the 
opinion,  accepted  by  Mr.  Charles  T.Newton  and  by  myself, 
that  the  double  parallel  circle  of  slabs,  having  been  in  the 
most  solid  way  covered  with  cross  slabs,  must  necessarily 
have  served  as  a  bench  to  sit  upon  and  as  the  enclosure 
of  the  Agora  of  Mycenae.  He  thinks  that  the  first  idea 
for  the  form  of  an  Agora  was  given  by  the  circular-dances 
(kvkKlol  x°Pol)  ant^  tne  recitation  of  the  dithyrambs.* 
The  assembled  people  sat  in  a  circle,  and  the  orator  stood 
in  the  centre,  as  we  see  in  Homer,f  and  in  Sophocles  J; 
and  just  in  the  centre  of  this  enclosure  at  Mycenae  I  found 
a  rock  forming  a  slight  elevation,  which  might  well  have 


*  The  Dithyramb  was  an  ancient  Bacchanalian  performance,  as 
early  at  least  as  Archilochus,  who  says  "he  knows  how  to  lead  off  the 
dithyramb,  the  beautiful  song  of  Dionysus,  when  his  mind  is  inflamed 
with  wine"  (Frag.  ap.  Athen.  XIV.  p.  628).  It  seems  to  have  been  a 
hymn  sung  by  one  or  more  members  of  a  *u>/*os,  or  irregular  band  of 
revellers,  to  the  music  of  the  flute.  Arion,  at  Corinth,  first  gave  a  regular 
choral  or  antistrophic  form  to  the  dithyramb  (Herodot.  I.  24  ;  Pindar, 
Olymp.  XIII.  18-25).  The  choruses,  which  ordinarily  consisted  of 
fifty  men  or  youths,  danced  in  a  ring  round  the  altar  of  Dionysus. 
Hence  they  were  termed  cyclic  choruses  {kvkXwi.  \opol),  and  dithyrambic 
poets  were  understood  by  the  term  KUKAio8i6ao-»caA.oi. 

t  //.  I.  58,  68,  101  ;  II.  53,  96,  99. 

+    Ocd.  'lyr.  l6l  :  "Aprf/uii'  &  kvk\iUvt'  ayopas  6p6vov  t!>K\ia  Baaau. 
"  Artemis  who  sits  on  the  Agora's  glorious  circular  seat." 


126 


THE  AGORA  IN  THE  ACROPOLIS. 


[Chap.  V. 


served  as  the  platform  (yS^a),  from  which  the  speakers 
addressed  those  sitting  on  the  circular  bench.* 

We  therefore  know  with  certainty,  in  the  first  place, 
that  the  Agora  was  round,  and,  secondly,  that  people  used 
to  sit  there.  The  circular  form  of  the  Agora  is  also  proved 
by  Euripides,|  who  speaks  of  the  "circle  of  the  Agora" 
(ayopas  kvkKov).  Professor  Paley  infers  from  the  passage 
of  Euripides  already  cited  (Electra,  710),  that  the  poet 
had  known  this  Agora  in  the  Acropolis  of  Mycenae 
from  personal  inspection,  and  that  by  irerpiva  fidOpa  he 
means  the  enormous  circular  stone  bench  by  which  the 
Agora  is  enclosed,  and  that  consequently  on  this  bench  he 
makes  the  herald  stand,  when  in  a  loud  voice  he  calls  the 
people  of  Mycenae  to  the  Agora ;  he  also  believes  that 
Euripides  had  perhaps  in  mind  the  firj[xa  in  the  Athenian 
Pnyx.  I  should  not  hesitate  to  accept  Professor  Paley's 
opinion,  had  I  not  found  the  Agora  deeply  buried  in  the 
pre-historic  dtbris.  But  it  may  very  well  be  that  at  the 
time  of  Euripides  the  Agora  was  not  yet  entirely  covered, 
and  that  the  greater  part  of  the  prehistoric  debris,  with 
which  I  found  it  covered,  was  only  after  his  time  washed 
down  by  the  heavy  winter  rains  from  the  five  upper  natural 
or  artificial  terraces  of  the  Acropolis.  At  all  events  it  ap- 
pears from  the  pottery  of  the  later  Hellenic  city  that  the 
latter  was  not  built  till  after  the  time  of  Euripides. 

Mr.  Charles  T.  Newton  calls  my  attention  to  the 
passage  in  Thucydides,  who  says  of  Corcyra,  "  the  houses 
which  lie  in  a  circle  around  the  Agora."!  Also  to  the  fol- 
lowing passages  in  Pausanias,  which  prove  that  the  heroic 
tombs  were  in  the  Agora  of  Megara.  "  Here  they  built  the 
place  for  council  in  order  that  they  might  have  the  tomb 
of  the  heroes  within  the  place  for  council       for  there  can 

*  This  rock  has  now  partially  fallen,  in  consequence  of  the  excava- 
tion of  the  third  and  fourth  tombs,  which  it  overhangs. 

+   Orest.  919.  +  TllUCyd.  III.  74  :  tcis  o'lKias  tos  iv  kvk\o>  rrjs  ayopat. 

§  PaUS.  I.  43,  §  4  :  (SovAevrripiov  IvravOa  <fKoZ6ixr)aav,  1V0  <r<pl<rtv  6  rd.<pos 
ti>v  T)pd>(t>v  ivrbs  too  &ov\tvTi]piov  •yiirr\T<u. 


Chap.  V.]    ROYAL  TOMBS  IN  THE  AGORA  AT  CYRENE.  127 

be  no  doubt  that  this  (3ov\evTrjpiov  was  in  the  Agora.  (It 
must  be  borne  in  mind  that  this  was  done  at  Megara  by 
the  advice  of  the  Delphic  oracle.)  Further:  "also  the 
tomb  of  Coroebus  is  in  the  Agora  of  the  Megarians.'  * 

Another  esteemed  friend  also  calls  my  attention  to  the 
passage  in  Pausanias :  "Here  is  the  tomb  of  Opheltes, 
with  an  enclosure  of  stones  and  altars  in  the  walls ;  (here) 
is  also  the  tumulus,  the  sepulchre  of  Lycurgus,  the  father 
of  Opheltes."f  But  Opheltes  was  a  son  of  the  Nemean 
King  Lycurgus  and  Eurydice,  and  he  was  killed  by  a 
serpent  whilst  his  nurse,  Hypsipyle,  showed  a  spring  to  the 
seven  heroes  when  on  their  expedition  to  Thebes.  Owing 
to  this  event  the  people  of  Nemea  founded  in  his  honour 
the  Nemean  games,  and  he,  as  well  as  his  father,  was 
interred  in  the  sacred  grove  of  the  Nemean  Jove,  where 
their  tombs  were  seen  by  Pausanias,  who  mentions  nothing 
of  an  Agora.  J 

Professor  Paley  reminds  me  of  Pindar's  Pythian  Ode 
(V.  69-98),  in  which  we  read :  §  "(Apollo)  caused  the 
valorous  descendants  of  Hercules  and  Aegimius  to  dwell 
in  Lacedaemon,  and  at  Argos,  and  at  sacred  Pylos. 
Now  thev  say  that  from  Sparta  came  my  own  much 
cherished  race.  Sprung  from  thence  the  heroes  called 
Aegidae  came  to  Thera,  even  my  ancestors, — not  indeed 
without  the  guidance  of  the  god,  but  a  certain  destiny 
brought  thither  a  festive  rite  attended  with  much  sacrific- 
ing ;  and  from  thence  receiving  thy  Carnea,  Apollo,  we 
honour  at  the  banquet  the  grandly  built  city  of  Cyrene, 
possessed  as  it  is  by  the  brass-loving  strangers,  Trojan 
descendants  of  Antenor.     For  they  came  thither  with 

*   PailS.   I.  43,  §  8  :   Kopoi&w  Si  itrrt  rapot  (v  t»;  Mtyapiuiv  ayopa. 

+  PaUS.  II.  15,  §  4:  ivraiOa  lari  fiii/  'O<pi\T0u  Ttlpoj,  ntpi  Si  aurb* 
0pi'7Kos  Klduiv,  ko!  ivrbs  roii  irepifSuKov  /3u>uot  ■  tart  Si  \w,ua  y?is  \vKovpyov  nvTifia  tou 
'OtpiKrou  TrarpSs. 

X  Paus.  II.  15,  §  2  ;  Apollod.  I.  9,  §  14;  III.  6,  §  4  ;  Hyg.  Fab.  74; 
Stat.  Theb.  V.  296. 

§  Translation  of  the  Odes  of  Pindar  by  F.  A.  Paley,  M.A. 


128 


ROYAL  TOMBS  IN  THE  AGORA. 


[Chap.  V. 


Helen,  after  they  had  seen  their  native  city  become  a 
smoking  ruin  in  the  war.  And  the  horse-driving  race  is 
religiously  received  with  sacrifices,  and  propitiated  by 
offerings  (at  their  tombs),  by  the  men  whom  Aristoteles 
(Battas)  brought,  when  he  opened  the  deep  highway  of  the 
sea  for  his  swift  vessels.  He  founded  also  larger  groves  of 
the  gods,  and  laid  down  a  paved  road,  cut  straight  through 
the  plain,  to  be  smitten  with  the  feet  of  horses  in  processions 
to  Apollo  for  averting  evil  from  mortals ;  and  there  he  lies 
in  death,  apart  from  the  rest,  at  the  furthermost  end  of  the 
Agora.  Happy  did  he  live  while  among  men,  and  after- 
wards he  was  blessed  as  a  hero  worshipped  by  the  people. 
And  away  from  him,  in  front  of  their  palaces  [but  of 
course  also  in  the  Agora],  lie  other  consecrated  kings  that 
have  their  lot  with  Hades." 

From  this  passage  in  Pindar  we  see  that  Battas,  also 
called  Aristoteles,  the  founder  of  Cyrene,  640  B.C.,  and  its 
first  king,  descended  from  Hercules,  and  that  his  ancestors, 
the  Heracleids  or  Dorians,  had  emigrated  from  Sparta  to 
Thera.  As  Pindar  saw  his  tomb,  as  well  as  those  of  other 
consecrated  kings  (probably  the  successors  of  Battas),  in 
the  Agora  of  Cyrene,  Professor  Paley  thinks  that  it  was  an 
ancient  Doric  and  not  an  Achaean  custom  to  bury  the 
kings  in  the  Agora.  But  this  is  in  contradiction  with  the 
above  statement  of  Pausanias  (I.  43,  §fy  4,  8),  that  the 
Megarians  had  the  sepulchres  of  Coroebus  and  other 
heroes  in  their  Agora,  because  Coroebus  was  an  Elian 
Olympic  victor  in  the  stadium  (Ol.  I.),  and,  according  to 
tradition,  he  killed  TloLvij,  sent  by  Apollo  to  the  Argives.* 
Besides  the  Megarians  had  nothing  whatever  to  do  with 
Doric  customs. 

In  like  manner  as  at  Megara  and  Cyrene,  so  in  the 
Acropolis  of  Mycenae,  in  honour  of  the  illustrious  person- 
ages who  lie  buried  here,  the  Agora  was  erected  in  a  circle 


*  Paus.  V.  8,  §  3  ;  VIII.  26,  §  2 ;  Strabo,  VIII.  355. 


i876.] 


CURIOUS  IDOLS. 


129 


around  their  tombs.  Had  the  circle  of  slabs  served  only  as 
an  enclosure  for  the  five  royal  tombs  there  would  have 
been  no  necessity  either  to  make  it  double  and  slanting  and 
to  cover  it  horizontally,  or  to  build  a  huge  wall  for  the 
sole  purpose  of  sustaining  it  in  the  lower  part  of  the  Acro- 
polis, and  of  raising  it  to  the  level  of  that  part  which  rested 
on  the  rock  in  the  higher  part  of  the  Acropolis ;  nay,  one 
single  circular  enclosure,  following  the  sinuosities  of  the 
rock,  would  in  my  opinion  have  done  just  as  much  honour 
to  the  five  royal  sepulchres  as  the  artificially  levelled  and 
covered  double  row. 

It  deserves  particular  notice  that  between  and  on  both 
sides  of  the  double  circular  row  of  slabs,  there  were  found 
many  objects  of  interest,  such 
as  a  fish  of  wood  (No.  211), 
and  a  large  number  of  Hera- 
idols  of  the  various  forms  already 
described ;  also  some  in  the 
shape  of  a  standing  or  a  sitting 

cow  without  horns,  but  with  a  female  head-dress,*  or 
with  the  neck  perforated  for  suspension  with  a  string,f 
which  seems  to  indicate  that  they  were  worn 
as  amulets.  Also  a  female  idol  having  two  feet 
instead  of  a  tube  as  usual ;  it  has  an  uncovered 
bird's  head,  no  mouth,  very  large  eyes,  pro- 
truding hands,  and  a  necklace ;  the  hair  is 
well  represented  on  the  back ;  the  dress  is 
marked  with  a  red  colour.^  There  was  also 
found  an  unpainted  male  figure  of  clav,  with 

_  ._.  _  '  A  curious  Idol. 

large  eyes,  an  aquiline  nose,  and  no  mouth;   i4m.)  Actuauue. 
the  head  is  covered  with  a  cap  in  form  of  a 
turban.    I  doubt  if  this  is  an  idol.    There  was  also  found 
a  very  primitive  idol,  with  an  uncovered  bird's  head  and 


No.  A  Mil)  of  Wood.    (3i  M.) 

Actual  size. 


*  See  the  coloured  Plate  C,  fig.  k. 
t  See  No.  115.  J  See  No.  107. 


'7 


130  EXCAVATIONS  ABOUT  THE  AGORA.        [Chap.  V. 

two  ears ;  the  hands  are  on  the  breast,  but  not  joined ;  the 
head  is  turned  towards  heaven  (No.  212).  I  here  call 
attention  to  the  large  number  of  idols  of  Aphrodite  in 
the  British  Museum,  which  are  represented  touching  both 
breasts  with  the  hands,  probably  as  symbols  of  fecundity. 

There  were  also  found  two  knives  of  lever-opal  and 
three  arrows  of  obsidian,*  which  are  of  rare  occurrence 
here  ;  further,  a  number  of  small  perforated  glass  necklace 
beads,  and  three  whorls  of  terra-cotta. 

I  frequently  find  here,  in  the  prehistoric  dSrts,  frag- 
ments of  a  wall-coating  of  chalk  with  painted  archaic  orna- 
mentations of  red,  blue,  green,  or  yellow  spiral  lines.  As 
no  trace  of  chalk  is  found  in  any  of  the  Cyclopean  houses, 
I  cannot  claim  for  these  wall-coatings  a  remote  antiquity ; 
and  I  fancy  they  are  derived  from  frame  houses  of  the  last 
century  before  the  capture  of  the  city  by  the  Argives. 

To  the  south  ot  the  circular  double  row  of  slabs  my 
excavations  have  brought  to  light  a  vast  Cyclopean 
house,  which,  so  far  as  it  has  been  uncovered,  contains 
seven  chambers  intersected  by  four  corridors  of  four  feet 
in  breadth  (see  Plans  B  and  C).  Here  and  there  the  walls 
still  retain  their  clay  coating,  which,  however,  nowhere 
shows  a  trace  of  painting.  The  walls  are  from  2  to  4^  ft. 
thick,  and  the  same  wall  is  in  some  places  6  to  8  in. 
thicker  than  in  others.  The  largest  room  is  i8i  ft.  long 
by  13^  ft.  broad,  and  its  east  side  is  cut  out  in  the  rock 
to  a  depth  of  16  in. 

Below  this  and  the  adjoining  room  is  a  deep  cistern  cut 
out  in  the  rock.  Into  it  runs  a  Cyclopean  water-conduit, 
which  comes  down  the  hill,  and  probably  brought  water 
from  the  spring  Perseia,  half  a  mile  east  of  the  Acropolis, 
which  has  a  well-deserved  celebrity  in  the  plain  of  Argos  for 
its  purity  and  its  salubrious  properties.  Pausanias  (II.  16) 
saw  this  spring  in  the  ruins  of  Mycenae  ;  but  the  city  never 


*  See  No.  126,  p.  76. 


1876.]  PROBABLE  ROYAL  PALACE.  131 

extended  so  far  east.  I  suppose,  therefore,  that  what  he 
saw  of  the  water  of  the  Perseia  was  nothing  but  the  dis- 
charge of  an  artificial  conduit  from  the  natural  source 
above  the  citadel.  This  would  also  perfectly  agree  with 
the  word  Kpijurj,  which  he  constantly  employs  with  that 
meaning,  in  opposition  to  Trrj-y-q,  a  natural  spring. 

Although  there  are  no  windows  in  the  Cyclopean 
house — and  although  the  scanty  daylight  through  the 
doors  must  have  been  still  further  diminished  by  the 
Cyclopean  circuit-wall,  which  is  only  separated  from  the 
west  side  of  the  house  by  a  corridor  4  ft.  broad — yet  there 
can  be  no  doubt  that  it  served  as  a  dwelling-house,  and 
further  as  the  dwelling  house  of  the  most  prominent  family 
of  Mycenae,  for  it  is  only  such  a  house  that  we  can  imagine 
close  to  the  Agora  in  the  most  imposing  part  of  the 
Acropolis,  within  which  the  space  was  very  scanty  and  there- 
fore precious.  Professor  Paley  thinks  that  the  passage  so 
often  cited  from  Euripides  (Elcctra,  710)  proves  beyond 
any  doubt  that  it  must  be  the  Royal  Palace,  because  the 
people  of  Mycenjr;  are  there  called  to  the  Agora  to  sec  the 
wonderful  lamb  with  the  golden  Jlcccc.  But  this  lamb 
(which  was  a  portent  symbolical  of  the  monarchy)  had 
been  conveyed  to  the  palace  by  Aerope,  wife  of  Atreus. 
Thyestes  then  and  there  told  the  people  that  he  had  it  in 
his  house  koto.  Scofxa),  consequently  the  palace  was 

close  to  the  Agora. 

If  at  the  time  of  Euripides  the  Agora  was  still  partly 
visible  above  the  dSris,  such  must  have  been  still  much 
more  the  case  with  the  ruins  of  that  Cyclopean  house,  and 
it  is  more  than  probable  that  tradition  pointed  to  it  as  the 
Palace  of  the  Atrichr,  in  which  Agamemnon  and  his  com- 
panions had  been  murdered,  and  that  it  was  shown  under  this 
denomination  to  Euripides.  The  objects  discovered  in  this 
house  prove  that  its  inmates  had  pretensions  even  to  luxury  ; 
for  in  one  of  the  chambers,  at  a  depth  of  20  feet  below 
the  surface,  was  found  a  finger-ring  cut  out  of  a  splendid 


132  THE  PROBABLE  ROYAL  PALACE.  [Chap.  V. 

white  onyx,  with  a  seal,  on  which  are  represented  in  intaglio 
two  animals  without  horns.  At  first  sight  they  certainly 
appear  to  be  hinds,  but  on  attentive  examination  we  see  that 
the  artist's  intention  has  been  to  represent  cows  ;  both  have 
their  heads  turned  round  looking  at  their  calves,  which 
suck  the  milk  from  their  udders.*  Though  in  a  very 
archaic  style,  the  intaglio  is  nevertheless  well  wrought ;  the 
anatomy  of  the  animal  is  tolerably  observed,  and  one  feels 
astonished  how  it  could  have  been  possible  to  do  the  work 
without  a  magnifying  glass.  On  seeing  this  intaglio,  and 
reflecting  that  it  belongs  to  an  antiquity  preceding  Homer 
by  centuries,  we  are  ready  to  believe  that  all  the  works  of 
art  mentioned  by  Homer,  such  as  the  wonderful  shield  of 
Achilles,f  the  dog  and  the  deer  in  the  mantle-brooch  of 
Ulysses,J  Nestor's  goblet,^  and  others,  all  existed  in  his 
time,  and  that  he  merely  describes  what  he  saw  with  his 
own  eyes.  Mr.  Achilles  Postolaccas  calls  my  attention  to 
the  most  ancient  didrachms  of  Corcyra,  of  the  7th  century 
b  c,  on  which  a  cow  is  giving  milk  to  her  calf,  this  repre- 
sentation being  similar  in  style  to  the  cows  and  calves  on 
the  onyx  ring. 

There  were  further  found  in  the  Cyclopean  house  some 
beautiful  axes  of  diorite  or  serpentine, ||  and  many  whorls 
of  blue  stone,  and  a  great  many  painted  terra-cottas,  among 
which  the  fragments  of  a  large  vase,  with  two  or  three 
handles,  the  ends  of  which  have  been  modelled  into  the 
shape  of  cowheads,  deserve  particular  attention.  Some  of 
the  fragments  which  I  have  been  able  to  readjust  represent 
six  full-armed  warriors,  painted  with  a  dark  red  colour  on 
a  light  yellow  dead  ground ;  they  are  evidently  setting  out 
on  a  military  expedition,  and  all  wear  coats  of  mail  which 
reach  from  the  neck   down  to   below  the  hips.  (See 


*  See  No.  175,  p.  112.  f  Iliad,  XVIII.  478-608. 

x  od.  xix.  224-231.  §  //.  xi.  632-635. 

II  Like  those  shown  under  No.  126,  p.  76. 


1876.]  A  PAINTED  VASE.  133 

No.  213).  These  coats  of  mail  consist  of  two  distinct 
parts,  which  are  fastened  round  the  waist  by  a  girdle, 


i34 


THE  PROBABLE  ROYAL  PALACE. 


[Chap.  V. 


and  their  lower  edge  is  fringed  with  long  tassels.  Each 
warrior's  back  is  covered  with  a  large  round  shield,  which 
seems  to  be  fastened  on  the  left  shoulder,  for,  though 
the  shield  protrudes  far  on  both  sides,  it  does  so  much 
more  on  the  left  than  on  the  right.  Its  lower  end  is  cut 
out  in  the  form  of  a  crescent.  In  their  right  hands  the 
warriors  hold  long  lances,  to  each  of  which  is  attached  that 
curious  object  resembling  a  Trojan  idol,  which  I  have 
already  mentioned  in  describing  one  of  the  bas-reliefs. 
Though  it  certainly  appears  to  us  that  this  curious  object 
can  have  served  for  no  other  purpose  than  for  fixing  the 
lances  on  the  right  shoulder,  yet  it  deserves  particular 
attention  that  the  primitive  Mycenean  artist  has  taken  care 
to  represent  it  a  little  above  the  shoulder,  in  order  that  it 
might  be  seen  separately,  for  had  he  represented  it  leaning 
on  the  shoulder,  it  would  have  been  confounded  with,  and 
partly  covered  by,  the  shield,  and  it  would  have  been  im- 
possible to  recognise  its  shape.  For  the  rest,  the  shape  of 
the  lances  is  such  as  we  were  led  to  expect  from  the  Homeric 
"  So\lx6(tklov  eyx°s>  f°r  they  are  very  long.  We  further 
see  that  the  spear-head  has  a  tube  in  which  the  shaft  is 
fixed,  and  this  appears  also  to  have  been  the  case  with  the 
Homeric  lances.f 

Very  peculiar  are  the  greaves  (/c^jLuSes)  which  appear 
to  be  of  cloth,  and  reach  from  a  little  above  the  knee  down 
nearly  as  far  as  the  ankles ;  their  upper  end  is  attached  by 
means  of  a  string,  which  is  turned  three  times  round  the 
lower  part  of  the  thigh.  In  my  opinion  this  string  is  in 
itself  a  proof  that  the  greaves  are  of  cloth.  All  the  warriors 
wear  sandals  fastened  on  by  straps  reaching  as  far  up  as 
the  greaves.  Of  the  highest  interest  are  the  helmets,  dotted 
all  over  with  a  large  number  of  points,  which  may  be 


*  Literally,  '  a  spear  casting  a  very  long  shadow.' 
t  See  for  example,  //.  XVII.  297  : — 

(yice<l>a\os  8e  Traf)'  av\bv  aveSpafifv  e£  wTeiArjs. 
"  And  the  brain  ran  out  from  the  wound  on  the  tube  of  the  lance." 


1876.]  THE  HOMERIC  HELMET.  1 35 

intended  to  represent  the  lustre  of  the  bronze.  The  lower 
part  of  the  helmets  is  nearly  in  the  form  of  a  crescent, 
and  protrudes  both  in  front  and  behind  ;  the  upper  part  of 
the  helmet  is  no  doubt  the  Homeric  <£a\o<?.*  On  the  top 
of  this  (f>dXo<;  was  the  \d^>09  or  tube,  in  which  the  horse- 
tail crest  (iWovpis)  was  fastened.f  But  unfortunately  no 
space  was  left  for  this  k6<f>oq,  and  thus  the  artist  has  been 
obliged  to  leave  it  out  and  to  represent  the  crest  as  fastened 
on  the  <f>d\o<;  itself.  What  this  crest  consists  of  is  not 
clear,  but  as  it  is  here  shewn  in  the  form  of  a  long  leaf,  it 
is  highly  probable  that  the  artist  meant  to  represent  it  as  a 
horsetail. 

From  the  fore  part  of  the  helmet  rises  a  long  and 
very  curious  object,  which  forms  a  curve,  and  is  much 
like  a  horn.  It  is  altogether  inexplicable  to  me  what  it 
can  have  been  used  for,  and  there  is  no  word  in  Homer 
which  might  be  interpreted  so  as  to  indicate  its  existence 
on  the  Homeric  helmet. 

Now,  with  regard  to  the  physiognomy  of  the  six  war- 
riors, it  is  most  decidedly  not  Assyrian  or  Egyptian.  All 
have  exactly  the  same  type — very  long  noses,  large  eyes, 
small  ears,  and  a  long  well-dressed  beard,  which  ends  in  a 


*  77.  III.  361-362  :— 

'Arpei'STjs  Si  Ipvtrodfitvos  tftpus  apyvp6r\\ov, 
■n\r\£(v  avaaxd^tvos  xSpvBoi  <pd\ov. 
"  Drawing  his  silver-studded  sword  and  lifting  up  his  arm,  Atreides  struck  the 
<pd\os  off  the  helmet." 

f  The  following  passage  of  the  Iliad,  XIX.  379-383,  can  leave 
no  doubt  on  this  point : — 

lis  air'  'AxiAArjos  irdtctus  (TfKas  alBip'  fawi 
«a\ov,  SaiSuAtuV  irtpt  Si  Tpu<pd\(tav  atipas 
Kparl  Biro  f}piapi)i>  1  5)  8',  0(TT7)p  4is,  dir»Aa^irf v 
'lirnovpis  Tpv<t>d\(ta'  ir(pia<T(iovTo  8'  (Bttpat 
Xpvatat,  &s  "Hc^aifTTOj  Yfi  \6ipov  afi<pl  faunas. 

"So  shone  up  to  the  sky  the  glance  of  the  beautiful  artistic  shield  of  Achilles, 
Lifting  then  up  the  powerful  helmet,  he  put  it  on  his  head,  a.id  the  plumed  helmet 
glanced  like  a  star,  and  the  hairs  of  gold  waved,  which  Hephaestus  had  ihickly  set 
round  the  cone  (Korpov)." 

See  the  description  of  these  parts  of  the  Homeric  helmets  in  '  Troy 
and  its  Remains,'  pp.  279-281,  and  334. 


136  THE  PROBABLE  ROYAL  PALACE.  [Chap.  V. 

point.  Thus,  except  the  beard,  there  is  nothing  Asiatic 
about  them.  Five  of  the  warriors  are  followed  by  a 
woman,  seemingly  a  priestess,  who  is  dressed  in  a  long  gown 
fastened  at  the  waist  by  a  girdle  ;  her  forehead  is  orna- 
mented with  a  diadem,  and  she  seems  to  wear  some  kind 
of  a  head-dress.  Only  her  right  arm  remains,  which  is 
uplifted,  and  by  the  curve  it  forms  it  appears  that  the  woman 
has  lifted  her  joined  hands  and  is  praying  to  the  gods  to 
be  propitious  to  the  departing  warriors,  and  to  grant  them 
a  safe  return.  This  custom  of  lifting  both  hands  when 
praying  is  continually  found  in  Homer.* 

On  other  fragments  of  the  same  vase  (No.  214!)  are 
represented  two  warriors,  who  cover  their  left  side  with 
their  shields  and  hold  in  their  uplifted  right  hand  a  lance, 
which  they  thrust  at  their  enemies,  of  whom,  however,  the 
figure  of  only  one  is  partly  preserved.  The  armour  of  the 
two  warriors  and  that  of  the  opponent  is  perfectly  identical 
with  that  of  the  six  warriors  described  before,  except  the 
head-dress,  which,  instead  of  bronze  helmets,  consists  here 
seemingly  of  a  low  helmet  of  boarskin,  with  the  bristles  out- 
side. In  fact,  these  helmets  vividly  remind  us  of  the  low 
helm  of  oxskin  which  Ulysses  put  on  his  head  when  he 
and  Diomed  went  in  the  night  as  spies  to  the  Trojan 
cam  p.  J  I  may  here  remark  that  the  word  Kvvdrj  means 
dogskin,  and  that  consequently  the  low  helmets  must  origi- 
nally have  been  made  of  dogskin.    But  at  the  epoch  of 


*  For  example,  77.  I.  450  : — 

Toidiv  5e  Xpv<rris  ficyd\'  evxero  x^'pas  a.va.<x-)(_iiiv. 
"  Loud  prayed  for  them  Chryses  lifting  up  his  hands." 

t  See  Vignette  to  Chapter  VI. 
%  II.  X.  257-259. 

.  ifxipl  Se  oi  Kvvir\v  Ke(pa\ij(piv  e07jK6i' 
Tavpfirjv,  &(pa\6v  T6  Kal  aKKocpov,  H)tz  KaraiTv^ 
KeK\r)Tat,  f>v(Tai  5e  Kapf]  daXtpuiv  alQqaiv. 

"  On  his  brows  he  placed 
A  helmet,  wrought  of  bull's  hide,  without  crest 
Or  cone,  and  commonly  cataityx  called, 

Such  as  defends  the  head  of  blooming  youths." — I.  Ch.  Wright. 

) 


1876.]  HAND-MADE  POTTERY.  1 37 

Homer  the  original  conception  of  the  word  had  long  dis- 
appeared, and  he  not  only  uses  Kvverj  for  a  low  helm,  but 
also  for  a  large  bronze  helmet.  Behind  the  warrior  to  the 
left  is  seen  part  of  the  coat  of  mail  and  the  shield  of  another 
man,  and  behind  the  other  warrior  is  seen  a  shield ;  thus 
it  seems  that  many  warriors  were  here  represented  fighting 
together.  Below  the  first  handle  is  represented  a  flying 
bird.  On  the  two  cow-heads,  in  which  the  handles  termi- 
nate, only  the  place  of  the  horns  is  marked,  because  the 
artist  knew  that,  if  he  made  them,  they  would  at  once  break 
when  the  vase  was  to  be  used.  The  clay  of  this  vase,  which 
has  been  made  on  the  potter's  wheel,  is  unusually  bad  and 
mixed  with  coarse  sand  ;  the  fabric  also  is  extremely  rude ; 
inside  it  is  painted  red. 

There  were  further  found  in  the  Cyclopean  house  other 
vases  of  excellent  fabric,  and  ornamented  with  rows  of 
circles,  containing  numerous  signs  which  at  first  sight 
appear  to  be  written  characters,  but  from  the  continual 
repetition  of  the  same  signs  one  soon  sees  the  mistake. 
There  were  also  found  in  the  Cyclopean  house  two  copper 
vessels,  one  of  which  is  a  tripod  of  very  large  size. 

I  now  find  here  in  the  Acropolis  numerous  fragments 
of  hand-made  pottery,  but  not  in  distinct  layers  as  at  Tiryns. 
It  is  evident  that  the  layer  of  prehistoric  hand-made  pot- 
tery (for  there  must  have  been  such  a  layer)  has  been 
disturbed ;  and  I  think  it  probable  that  it  was  disturbed 
when  the  huge  wall  was  built,  which  sustains  the  circular 
double  parallel  enclosure  of  the  Agora  in  the  lower  part 
of  the  Acropolis,  because  this  wall  is  at  all  events  later  than 
the  hand-made  pottery.  What  I  find  of  this  pottery  has 
usually  an  ornamentation  of  black  horizontal  bands  or 
spiral  lines  on  a  light  green  dead  ground  j  but  fragments  of 
monochromatic  lustrous  black  vases  also  occur. 

I  have  explained  on  pp.  3  and  4  that  the  name  "  Cyclo- 
pean walls  "  is  founded  on  an  error,  being  derived  from  the 
mythic  legend  that  the  Cyclopes  were  distinguished  archi- 


18 


138  MYCENEAN  POTTERY.  [Ch.  V.  1876. 

tects,  but  that  the  name  having  come  into  use,  we  cannot 
help  employing  it  for  the  different  kinds  of  walls  of  huge 
blocks  which  I  have  specified.  But  in  Tiryns  as  well  as 
here  in  Mycenae,  where  I  am  surrounded  by  the  grandest 
Cyclopean  walls  in  the  world,  I  am,  for  brevity's  sake  and 
in  order  to  avoid  misunderstandings,  bound  to  use  the 
name  "  Cyclopean  "  even  for  the  smallest  walls  of  houses 
or  water  conduits  which  show  the  same  kind  of  masonry. 
But  it  must  be  distinctly  understood  that  I  should  of 
course  not  think  of  calling  them  so  if  I  found  them  in 
places  where  there  are  no  huge  walls  of  that  kind,  for  the 
name  "  Cyclopean  "  can  only  be  applied  to  the  gigantic. 


No.  213  a,  b.    A  very  frequent  type  of  Mycenean  painted  Pottery.  Half-size 


Note. — The  pattern  on  the  two  fragments  here  shown,  evidently 
representing  a  sea  animal,  a  sort  of  cockle,  is  the  most  common  pattern  at 
Mycence  ;  but  it  never  occurs  either  in  the  five  royal  tombs,  or  in  the 
dromos  before  the  Treasury,  which  circumstance  leads  me  to  conclude 
that  it  came  into  use  at  Mycenae  both  after  the  epoch  of  the  tombs  and 
after  the  covering  up  of  the  dromos  of  the  Treasury.  The  pottery  with 
this  pattern  has  nearly  always  a  light  yellow  dead  ground,  only  in  a  few 
instances  a  light  red  dead  ground,  and  the  pattern  itself  is  always  of 
a  black  (or  dark  red)  colour.  Now  it  is  a  remarkable  fact  that  this 
pattern,  which  has  never  been  found  yet  elsewhere,  is  to  be  seen,  of 
exactly  the  same  form,  on  nearly  all  the  terra-cotta  goblets,  and  on 
some  of  the  terra-cotta  vases  from  the  sepulchre  of  ialysus,  which  are 
now  in  the  British  Museum.  At  the  same  time  I  remind  the  reader 
that  these  Ialysus  goblets  have  exactly  the  same  shape  as  all  the  terra- 
cotta goblets  of  Mycenae,  and  that  this  form  has  never  yet  been  found 
elsewhere,  except  in  the  first  and  most  ancient  of  the  four  prehistoric 
cities  at  Hissarlik.  But  then  again  it  deserves  particular  notice  that 
this  pattern  never  and  in  no  instance  occurs  on  the  Mycenean  goblets, 
and  solely  on  the  Mycenean  vases. 


No.  314.    Other  Fragments  of  the  Vase  (No.  213).    (5  M.)    Size  1  :  6. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

The  Second  Great  Treasury  ;  Acropolis;  and  Cyclo- 
pean Remains  in  the  Neighbourhood  of  Myckn.l. 

Further  excavations  of  Mrs.  Schliemann's  Treasury  —  The  dromos, 
doorway,  and  threshold  —  Objects  found  there — Hera-idols  — 
Cyclopean  water-conduits  and  cisterns  in  the  Acropolis  —  Bronze 
rings —  Pottery  with  marks  like  letters  —  Earrings  like  those  found 
at  Troy — Hand-made  painted  pottery- — New  forms  of  Hera-idols  — 
Terra-cotta  tripods  and  cradles,  probably  votive  offerings  —  A  comb, 
stilettos  of  opal,  beads  and  buttons  —  A  bronze  sword —  Iron  tongs 
of  late  date  —  State  of  the  debris  left  at  the  Lions'  Gate  —  The 
excavations  visited  by  the  Emperor  of  Brazil  —  Ascent  of  Mount 
Eubcea  —  The  Cyclopean  enclosure  on  its  summit  :  was  probably  a 
very  ancient  sanctuary  —  Other  Cyclopean  remains  near  Mycenae  — 
State  of  the  excavations. 

Mycenae,  October  30,  1876. 
Since  the  30th  of  September  I  have  continued  the  excava- 
tions witli  the  utmost  vigour,  employing  constantly  125 
labourers  and  5  horse-carts.  In  the  Treasury  the  difficulties 
were  far  greater  than  I  had  anticipated,  particularly  as  the 
delegate  of  the  Greek.  Government  opposed  the  removal  of 
the  foundations  of  the  Hellenic  house  just  above  the  lower 
part  of  the  "  dromos,"  which  I  have  mentioned  before. 
Thus  we  have  been  unable  to  clear  the  latter  of  the  dibris, 
9  ft.  deep,  which  still  covers  its  pavement,  and  have  only 


140 


THE  SECOND  GREAT  TREASURY. 


[Chap.  VI. 


succeeded  in  clearing  out  the  entrance  passage,  which  is 
13  ft.  long  and  8  ft.  broad,  and  the  central  part  of  the  Trea- 
sury ;  but  we  have  left  a  border  of  huge  stones  and  rubbish, 
7  ft.  to  9  ft.  high,  and  10  ft.  to  15  ft.  broad. 

The  two  semi -columns  to  the  right  and  left  of  the 
entrance  were  fluted ;  one  of  them  (4  ft.  3  in.  high  and 
1  ft.  4  in.  broad)  was  found  in  the  passage  near  the  door. 
At  ft.  before  the  latter  the  "  dromos "  is  shut  up  by  a 
wall  of  square  blocks  of  calcareous  stones,  5  ft.  high.  The 
door  of  the  Treasury  has  the  enormous  height  of  18  ft. 
5  in.,  and  is  8  ft.  4  in.  broad.  On  the  threshold,  which  con- 
sists of  a  very  hard  breccia,  and  is  2  ft.  5  in.  broad,  we  found 
a  very  thin  round  leaf  of  gold.  The  floor  of  the  Treasury 
is  the  levelled  rock  covered  with  a  coating  of  sand  and 
chalk,  traces  of  which  are  visible  in  many  places ;  it  slopes 
towards  the  centre,  which  is  1  ft.  lower  than  the  threshold. 

There  was  found  in  the 
Treasury  a  large  fragment  of 
a  frieze  of  blue  marble,  carved 
with  a  circle  and  two  rows  of 
a  wedge-like  ornamentation 
in  the  form  of  fish-spines; 
it  is  9  in.  high,  10  in.  broad, 
and  2  in.  thick  (No.  215). 


Nos.  215,  316.    Fragments  of  Frieres  of  blue  and  white  marble,  found  in  the  Treasury  near  the 
Lions'  Gate     Size  i  •  4  about. 


1876.]  WATER-CONDUITS  AND  CISTERNS.  141 

There  was  further  found  the  fragment  of  a  beautiful  frieze 
of  white  marble,  which  is  1  ft.  4  in.  long,  8  in.  broad,  and 
3^  in.  thick.  The  engraving  here  given  (No.  216)  represents 
the  broad  side  of  the  frieze  with  an  ornamentation  of  spirals 
between  two  small  borders.  We  have  already  given  the 
small  face,  on  which  we  see,  between  two  fillets  on  each  side, 
an  ornamentation  of  the  same  kind  of  spirals,  which  are, 
however,  deeper  cut  and  better  preserved.*  There  were 
further  found  five  unornamented  blades  of  copper  or 
bronze,  5i  to  6£  in.  long,  and  a  Hera-idol  of  the  usual 
form,  with  two  horns. 

Treasure  may  be  hidden  in  the  large  border  of  stones 
and  debris  which  I  have  been  forced  to  leave  behind,  but  I 
scarcely  believe  it.  Considering  that  very  ancient  frag- 
ments of  pottery  with  geometrical  patterns  were  found  ex- 
clusively in  the  "  dromos,"  and,  on  the  other  hand,  a 
variety  of  potsherds  of  different  ages  in  the  Treasury  itself, 
I  am  convinced  that  only  the  "  dromos  "  and  the  entrance 
were  covered  up  in  remote  antiquity,  that  the  Treasury 
remained  empty,  and  that  the  fragments  of  vases  now  found 
in  it  were  contained  in  the  thick  layer  of  rubbish  which 
covered  the  upper  vault  when,  fifty-six  years  ago,  Veli 
Pasha  tried  to  force  an  entrance  by  this  way. 

In  the  Acropolis  I  brought  to  light,  at  a  few  yards  from 
the  second  gate,  a  very  curious  Cyclopean  water-conduit 
leading  into  one  of  the  long  narrow  corridors.  I 
therefore  suppose  that  at  least  one,  and  perhaps  two,  of 
these  are  nothing  else  than  cisterns.  There  is  another 
Cyclopean  water-conduit  and  another  cistern  immediately 
south  of  them  ;  and  the  latter  seems  to  be  connected  with  the 
twelve  recesses,  in  which  I  also  recognize  nothing  but  six 
small  cisterns.  These  water-conduits,  like  that  which  runs 
into  the  two  cisterns  below  the  Cyclopean  house,  have 
doubtless  brought    the  water   from  the  copious  spring 


See  No.  153,  p.  98. 


142 


THE  SECOND  GREAT  TREASURY.        [Chap.  VI. 


"  Perseia,"  whose  name  seems  to  be  derived  from  Perseus, 
the  founder  of  Mycenae. 

In  clearing  out  the  masses  of  debris,  13  ft.  to  20  ft. 
deep,  which  obstructed  the  passage  of  the  gate,  I  found 
three  bronze  rings.  Two  of  these  (Nos.  217  and  219), 
which  were  found  close  to  the  surface,  may  be  of  the 
Hellenic  time,  but  it  is  impossible  to  say  this  with 
certainty.  The  former  (No.  217),  as  shown  by  the 
hollow,  has  had  a  stone,  which  is  now  missing.  The  third 
ring  is  a  seal-ring,  and  the  intaglio  is  too  archaic  not  to  be 
derived  from  a  period  preceding  the  conquest  of  the  city 
(468  b.c).  On  it  we  see  a  young  woman  in  a  sitting 
posture,  with  extended  arms ;  her  head,  which  is  turned 


217.  218.  219.  220. 


(*  M.)  (4  M.)  (I  M.)  (2  M.) 


Nos.  217-220.    Bronze  Rings  (two  with  intaglio  engravings),  and  a  twisted  Gold  Wire.   Actual  size. 

aside,  has  luxuriant  hair ;  to  the  right,  a  little  further  down, 
is  a  male  figure,  with  a  broad  chest  and  extended  arms. 

There  were  also  found  many  Hera-idols  in  the  form  of 
a  cow  or  a  horned  female,  and  among  the  former  a  fragment 
showing  on  a  light  yellow  dead  ground  a  number  of  dark 
red  signs,  which  may  be  letters,  like  those  shown  on  the 
coloured  plate  B,  fig.  h  ;  also  large  quantities  of  melted 
lead  ;  further  a  very  primitive  golden  earring  (see  No.  220), 
consisting  of  a  quadrangular  golden  wire  turned  twice 
round.  Mr.  Chas.  T.  Newton  concludes  from  the  sharp 
angles  of  this  and  all  the  other  quadrangular  gold  wires 
which  I  shall  hereafter  describe,  that  they  have  been  a 
strip  or  riband  cut  out  of  a  plate.  But  it  is  altogether 
inexplicable  to  me  how  the  primitive  goldsmith  can  have 
performed  this  operation,  particularly  as  his  knives  must 


1876.]  OBJECTS  FOUND  IN  THE  PALACE.  143 

necessarily  have  been  of  bronze.  The  same  form  of 
earrings  occurs  also  in  the  second  of  the  four  prehistoric 
cities  at  Troy,*  with  the  sole  difference  that  the  wire  there 
is  round. 

There  were  also  found  here,  in  a  hollow  of  the  rock,  a 
great  many  fragments  of  hand-made  vases,  coloured  either 
of  a  plain  black  or  red,  both  inside  and  outside,  or,  on  the 
outside  only,  of  a  light  green,  with  black  spiral  ornamen- 
tation. At  only  6  ft.  behind  the  Cyclopean  wall,  on  the 
east  side  of  the  passage,  I  have  brought  to  light  the  rem- 
nants of  an  evidently  much  more  ancient  wall  of  huge 
blocks. 

In  the  large  Cyclopean  house,  which  tradition  seems  to 
have  indicated  as  the  palace  of  the  Atrid;c,  immediately 
to  the  south  of  the  circular  Agora,  were  found  Ilera- 
idols  of  new  forms  :  for  example,  a  perfectly  Hat  cow 
with  only  one  big  hind-leg  and  two  fore-legs ;  j  a  female 
idol,  with  a  very  compressed  bird's  face,  and  with  a 
Phrygian  cap,  instead  of  the  usual  "  polos ;"  and  a  head- 
less idol,  with  two  protruding  breasts,  but  with  two  long 
cow-horns.  There  was  likewise  found  a  terra-cot ta  cow- 
horn,  3^  in.  long,  which  shows  that  there  must  have 
been  much  larger  idols  than  those  hitherto  found.  I 
further  collected  there  a  number  of  small  terra-cotta 
tripods  in  the  form  of  arm-chairs  and  cradles,  in  one  or 
two  instances  even  cradles  containing  children  :  all  are  gay- 
coloured  and  may  have  served  as  offerings.  Among  the 
other  objects  found  there  I  may  mention  two  perforated 
parallelopipeds  of  variegated  colours,  4  in.  long,  the  use 
of  which  I  cannot  explain  ; — a  comb,  which,  according 
to  Professor  Landerer,  consists  of  a  very  hard  white  clay 
paste  ; — several  pointed  sticks  (stilettos)  for  female  needle- 
work,! which  the  same  scholar  recognises  to  consist  of 


*  See  'Atlas  des  Antiquitcs  Troyennes,  PI.  98,  No.  207.}. 
t  See  No.  161,  p.  106.  J  Nos.  131-136,  p.  79. 


144 


THE  LIONS'  GATE. 


[Chap.  VI. 


opal ; — six  small  perforated  round  flat  transparent  beads 
of  white  stone,  belonging  to  a  necklace ;  and  a  large 
button  of  alabaster,  which  seems  to  have  been 
on  the  handle  of  a  sword.  There  was  also  found 
the  bronze  sword  (No.  221).  A  pair  of  tongs  of 
iron  was  found  near  the  Lions'  Gate  close  to  the 
surface,  and  may  be  of  the  Macedonian  period. 

To  my  very  greatest  annoyance  and  dis- 
pleasure, but  by  the  most  urgent  demand  of  the 
Greek  Archaeological  Society  in  Athens,  I  have 
been  forced  to  leave  in  the  Acropolis,  on  either 
side  of  the  Lions'  Gate,  a  large  block  of  debris 
untouched  in  situ,  because  this  Institution  has 
not  yet  sent,  as  it  intended  to  do,  an  engineer 
to  consolidate  the  sculpture  of  the  two  lions  with 
cramp-irons,  and  to  repair  the  Cyclopean  walls  to 
the  right  and  left  of  it.  But  they  still  intend 
to  do  this  work  sooner  or  later,  and  they  believe 
that  the  two  masses  of  debris  will  facilitate  the 
raising  of  the  blocks  and  their  insertion  in  the 
walls.  I  hope  that  this  work  will  be  done 
promptly,  so  that  the  two  blocks  of  debris  may 
not  have  long  to  wait  for  their  removal,  for  they 
give  the  excavations  a  miserable  aspect,  and 
particularly  the  mass  of  debris  to  the  right  on 

No.  221.     1         .         3  .  to 

Bron/e  sword,  entering,  because  this  latter  consists  of  loose 
ashes,  and,  should  it  be  left  for  a  few  years  more 
as  it  is,  it  will  be  washed  away  by  the  rains  and  spread 
over  my  excavations.  I  call  particular  attention  to  this, 
because  every  visitor  will  naturally  attribute  the  leaving 
behind  of  these  two  blocks  of  debris  to  my  negligence. 

Yesterday  and  to-day  my  excavations  have  had  the 
honour  of  being  visited  by  his  Majesty  Dom  Pedro  II., 
Emperor  of  Brazil.  Coming  from  Corinth,  his  Majesty  rode 
direct  up  to  the  Acropolis,  and  remained  for  two  hours  in  my 
excavations,  which  he  attentively  examined  and  re-examined. 


1876.]  VISIT  OF  THE  EMPEROR  OF  BRAZIL.  145 

The  immense  double  parallel  circle  of  slanting  slabs,  within 
which  are  the  three  lines  of  tombstones,  and  particularly  the 
four  sculptured  ones,  seemed  to  be  of  paramount  interest  to 
him,  and  he  requested  me  to  send  him  photographs  of 
them  to  Cairo.  The  great  Lions'  Gate,  through  which  the 
king  of  men  (ava£  av&pcov)  passed  when  he  left  for  the 
most  glorious  expedition  of  the  heroic  age,  the  wonderful 
threshold  of  this  gate,  the  large  Cyclopean  house,  the  three 
Cyclopean  water-conduits,  the  immense  Cyclopean  circuit 
walls  and  all  the  other  monuments  of  prehistoric  times, 
seemed  also  to  be  of  very  great  interest  to  his  Majesty, 
who  went  thence  to  the  Treasury  which  we  have  excavated, 
and  afterwards  to  the  Treasury  of  Atreus,  where  dinner 
was  served.  This  meal,  in  the  midst  of  the  mysterious, 
dome- like  underground  building  nearly  forty  centuries  old, 
seemed  to  please  his  Majesty  exceedingly.  He  after- 
wards examined  with  the  deepest  interest,  in  the  village 
of  Charvati,  the  large  collection  of  prehistoric  Mycenean 
antiquities  produced  by  my  excavations,  and  he  particularly 
admired  the  enormous  mass  of  differently-shaped  Hera- 
idols,  the  intaglios,  the  marvellous  Mycenean  pottery,  and 
the  archaic  sculptures.  I  lis  Majesty  also  examined  atten- 
tively, in  and  around  Charvati,  the  ancient  quarry  whence 
all  the  stones  for  the  Cyclopean  walls,  the  Treasuries,  and 
other  buildings,  have  been  extracted,  and  went  thence  to 
Argosand  Nauplia.  His  Majesty  called  here  again  to-day, 
to  see  once  more  the  Mycenean  museum  and  the  excava- 
tions, and  returned  hence  by  Corinth  and  Calamaki  to 
Athens. 

After  the  departure  of  his  Majesty,  Mrs.  Schliemann  and 
I  ascended,  not  without  the  very  greatest  difficulty,  the  very 
steep  northern  peak  of  Mount  Eubcea,  now  called  Hagios 
Elias,  which  is  situated  immediately  north  of  the  Acropolis, 
and  is  crowned  by  an  open  chapel  of  the  prophet  Elias 
(see  Plate  II.).  The  summit  forms  a  very  small  triangle, 
the  eastern  side  of  which  is  35  ft.,  the  two  other  sides, 


146 


ASCENT  OF  MOUNT  EUBCEA. 


[Chap.  VI. 


which  converge  due  west,  each  100  ft.  long.  It  is  full  of 
rugged  and  pointed  rocks,  between  which  it  is  difficult  even 
to  move,  and  it  can  therefore  never  have  been  inhabited  by 
men,  the  more  so  as  there  is  no  water.  The  only  even  and 
level  place  on  the  summit  is  in  the  south-east  corner ;  it  is 
but  10  ft.  broad  and  23  ft.  long,  and  is  occupied  by  a  very 
small  open  shrine,  dedicated  to  the  prophet  Elias.  But  in 
spite  of  its  small  dimensions,  the  summit  is  surrounded  by 
Cyclopean  walls,  which  are  on  an  average  4  ft.  2  in.  thick, 
and  from  3  ft.  to  6\  ft.  high  ;  but  the  masses  of  stones  which 
lie  beside  them  can  leave  no  doubt  that  they  were  once 
much  higher. 

The  entrance,  which  is  on  the  eastern  side,  leads  to 
a  short  passage.  In  the  large  stone  which  forms  the 
threshold  of  the  door  is  still  visible  the  hole  in  which  the 
lower  hinge  turned.  At  a  distance  varying  from  16  ft.  to 
53  ft.  lower  are,  on  all  the  three  sides  by  which  the  summit 
is  accessible,  Cyclopean  walls,  varying  from  133  ft.  to  266  ft. 
in  length,  and  5  ft.  thick,  which  are  still  now  on  an 
average  10  ft.  high,  and  appear  to  have  once  been  much 
higher.  From  between  the  stones  of  all  these  walls  I  have 
been  able  to  collect  a  large  number  of  fragments  of  hand- 
made light  green  vases  with  black  ornaments,  which  I  con- 
sider as  old  as  the  walls  of  Tiryns  and  Mycenae,  because 
in  the  former  place  I  found  them  in  situ  on  and  near  the 
virgin  soil,  in  the  latter  in  sihc  only  on  the  natural  rock  in 
the  recesses  of  the  gate-passage,  and  in  the  tombs.  I  con- 
clude from  this  that  the  Cyclopean  fortifications  on  Mount 
Euboea  (Hagios  Elias)  must  be  contemporaneous  with  the 
walls  of  both  cities,  and  may  perhaps  claim  even  a  still 
higher  antiquity. 

The  question  now  naturally  arises,  for  what  purpose  all 
these  fortifications  have  been  built.  The  mountain  being  so 
high  and  steep,  and  the  summit  so  exceedingly  small  and 
encumbered  by  protruding  rocks,  it  can  never  have  served 
as  a  fortress.    Therefore  the  only  explanation  I  venture  to 


1876.]  SANCTUARY  OF  THE  SUN-GOD.  147 

give  of  the  origin  of  these  Cyclopean  walls  is  that  there 
must  have  existed  on  the  summit  a  small  temple  of  great 
sanctity  and  immense  importance,  and  by  a  curious  co- 
incidence we  may  even  find  in  the  present  cultus  on  the 
summit  the  name  of  the  deity  who  was  worshipped  there 
in  antiquity.  In  times  of  great  drought  the  inhabitants  of 
the  surrounding  villages  are  in  the  habit  of  going  thither 
on  a  pilgrimage  in  large  crowds,  the  priests  leading,  to 
invoke  the  prophet  Elias  to  give  rain.  And  it  appears 
likely  that  the  very  site  of  the  present  open  shrine  of  the 
prophet  Elias  was  in  ancient  times  occupied  by  a  sanctuary 
of  the  Sun-god,  who  had  a  celebrated  cultus  there,  and  who 
has  given  way  to  the  prophet  Elias,  with  hardly  anv  change 
in  the  orthography  or  pronunciation  of  the  name,  the  Sun- 
god  having  been  originally  called  'He'Xios,  pronounced  Eelios. 
This  is  a  wonderful  coincidence,  because,  as  the  name  of 
the  prophet  is  purely  Hebrew  (n^N  or  inJjK,  meaning 
"Jehovah  is  God")  it  can  have  no  affinity  with  the 
Homeric  name  of  the  Sun-god,  'Ht'A.105,  which  is  probably 
derived  from  the  primitive  name  of  the  moon's  husband 
(perhaps  ^eipto?)  and  is  at  all  events  purely  Greek. 

Only  half  an  hour's  walk  in  a  westerly  direction  from 
the  Lions'  Gate,  and  close  to  the  village  of  Phichtia,  are 
the  ruins  of  a  small  Cyclopean  building,  in  the  same  style 
of  architecture  as  the  walls  to  the  right  and  left  of  that 
gate,  and  probably  belonging  to  the  same  epoch.  This 
also  appears  to  have  been  a  temple.  We  likewise  see, 
at  an  hour's  distance  in  a  north-westerly  direction  from  the 
Lions'  (kite,  in  a  secluded  valley,  on  the  border  of  a  deep 
glen,  the  well-preserved  ruins  of  a  quadrangular  Cyclopean 
tower,  of  which  every  side  measures  40  ft.  in  length ;  the 
walls  are  10  ft.  to  1  1  ft.  high.  At  the  south-westerly 
corner  is  the  door,  which  leads  into  a  small  corridor  and 
two  chambers.  On  the  outer  walls  are  seen  two  gutters. 
The  architecture  is  also  very  similar  to  that  of  the  walls 
close  to  the  Lions'  Gate.    Most  likely  this  tower  served 


1 48 


STATE  OF  THE  EXCAVATIONS. 


[Chap.  VI. 


the  Myceneans  for  dominating  the  narrow  pass  by  which 
the  road  leads  from  Argos  to  Corinth. 

The  present  state  of  the  excavations  is  represented  by 
the  engraved  Plate  VII.  First  we  see,  to  the  left  of  the 
spectator,  the  inner  side  of  the  great  Cyclopean  circuit  wall, 
which  is  terminated  in  the  background  by  the  Lions'  Gate, 
of  which,  however,  there  is  only  visible  the  reverse  side 
of  the  great  triangular  slab,  on  the  exterior  side  of 
which  is  the  famous  bas-relief  of  the  two  lions.  The 
Cyclopean  wall  seen  in  the  background  to  the  right  was 
part  of  an  interior  enclosure. 

Further  down,  just  behind  the  last  man,  is  a  Cyclopean 
wall,  of  which,  however,  only  the  small  portion  close  to  the 
Lions'  Gate,  with  the  chamber  of  the  ancient  door-keeper, 
can  claim  the  age  of  the  circuit  walls ;  the  remainder  is 
much  later,  but  anterior  to  the  capture  of  the  city  by  the 
Argives  (468  B.C.).  Before  this  wall  is  the  labyrinth  of 
corridors,  two  of  which,  at  all  events,  are  cisterns.  To  the 
left,  close  to  the  circuit  wall,  is  the  small  Cyclopean  house 
so  often  referred  to,  containing  only  one  chamber. 

In  the  foreground,  below  the  feet  of  the  workmen  who 
stand  upon  it,  can  be  seen  the  great  double  parallel  circular 
row  of  slanting  slabs,  inclined  inwards,  which  were  covered 
with  cross  slabs,  and  served  as  benches  of  the  Agora  and  as 
its  enclosure.  In  the  same  line  with  this  double  circular 
row  of  slabs  are  the  twelve  small  tomb-like  water-reservoirs 
which  we  see  in  the  direction  of  the  Lions'  Gate,  and  between 
which  is  the  entrance  to  the  Agora,  7  feet  broad.  Thence 
the  circle  of  slabs  slopes  to  the  left  of  the  spectator,  from 
the  rock  to  the  Cyclopean  wall  (12  feet  high),  which 
has  been  built  with  no  other  intention  than  to  sustain  it, 
and  to  raise  it  almost  to  the  level  of  its  continuation  on 
the  rock ;  but  as  will  be  seen,  nearly  all  the  slabs  in  this 
part  have  tumbled  down,  and  only  a  few  have  remained  in 
situ.  The  wall  which  supports  the  parallel  double  row 
can  be  well  seen,  slanting  down  at  an  angle  of  150  from 


1876.]  PANORAMIC  VIEW.  149 

the  perpendicular,  to  the  left  of  the  spectator.  The  four 
sculptured  stelcc  are  hidden  behind  the  large  standing  slab 
just  in  front ;  of  the  unsculptured  tombstones,  two  can  be 
seen  to  the  right,  on  the  side  of  the  entrance  to  the  Agora, 
and  two  more  on  the  side  of  the  two  horses.  Therefore 
the  ancient  Agora  of  Mycenae  comprises  the  whole  space 
which  we  see  enclosed  by  the  great  circle  of  slabs. 

In  the  middle  is  seen,  in  the  background  to  the  left, 
part  of  the  steep  slope  of  Mount  Eubcea,  on  whose 
summit  is  the  open  chapel  of  the  prophet  Elias.  In  front, 
more  to  the  right,  is  the  great  interior  Cyclopean  wall, 
crowned  by  the  ruins  of  a  tower,  which  gives  to  the 
Acropolis  a  particularly  grand  aspect.  It  forms  part  of  a 
second  enclosure.  To  the  right  there  is  a  good  view  of 
the  Mount  of  the  Acropolis,  on  the  slope  of  which 
remnants  of  inner  enclosures  can  be  seen  in  many  places. 
All  the  walls  which  are  seen  lower  down  are  those  of 
Cyclopean  houses,  except  the  large  supporting  wall  of  the 
double  parallel  row  of  slabs,  of  which  a  small  part  may  be 
seen  in  the  lower  left-hand  corner.  Below,  to  the  right, 
are  the  ruins  of  the  vast  Cyclopean  house,  to  which  I 
have  repeatedly  referred,  and  which,  though  we  cannot 
of  course  form  a  definite  opinion,  may  well  represent  to 
an  imagination  enlightened  by  the  vivid  descriptions  of 
Homer  and  the  tragedians,  the  Royal  Palace  of  Agamemnon 
and  his  forefathers. 

Note. — I  call  the  reader's  particular  attention  to  the  Section  il  Plan, 
B  B,  which  shows  the  depths  of  the  Five  Royal  Sepulchres,  which  are 
described  fully  in  the  two  following  chapters,  beneath  the  surface  of  the 
soil,  as  it  was  before  my  excavations. 


No.  222.    Fragment  of  a  wooden  Box  [va.pBy\£).    (5  m.)    Size  6  :  7. 


CHAPTER  VII. 
The  First,  Second,  and  Third  Tombs  in  the  Acropolis. 

Discovery  of  the  Tomb  indicated  by  the  three  sculptured  stelce  —  Curious 
gold-covered  buttons,  objects  of  ivory,  baked  clay,  gold,  glass, 
bronze,  &c.  —  Pottery,  both  wheel  and  hand-made  —  Second  Tomb 
below  the  unsculptured  stelce  —  Discovery  of  three  human  bodies, 
which  had  been  partially  burnt  where  they  lay — -  Fifteen  diadems 
of  thin  gold  plate  found  on  the  bodies — Also  crosses  of  golden 
laurel-leaves  —  Other  curious  objects,  proving  a  knowledge  of  the  art 
of  glass-working  and  colouring  —  Knives  of  obsidian  ■ —  A  silver  vase 
with  a  bronze  mouth  plated  with  gold,  and  other  objects  —  Terra- 
cotta vases  —  The  horned  Hera-idols  found  in  the  tomb,  a  proof 
of  that  symbolic  worship  in  the  earliest  times  at  Mycenae  —  Its 
duration  to  the  last  age  of  the  city  —  Primitive  painted  wheel- 
made  vases  of  terra-cotta  —  Further  discovery  of  sepulchral  slabs  — ■ 
Various  objects  found  with  them  —  The  Third  Tomb  —  Several 
skeletons  of  men,  not  burnt,  and  objects  found  with  them  —  A 
curious  double-bladed  bronze  dagger  —  Narrow  escape  from  a 
falling  rock  —  Internal  walls  of  the  tomb  —  Three  skeletons  of 
women  in  it,  evidently  burnt  where  they  lay  —  Laden  with  jewels  of 
gold  —  Layers  of  round  plates  of  gold  with  ornamentation  of  repousse 
work  under  and  over  the  bodies  —  Description  of  their  many  types 
— The  other  jewels  described — -Other  chased  and  embossed  beads 
—  Golden  griffins  —  Legend  of  the  griffins  of  Indian  origin  — 
Heart-shaped  and  lion-draped  gold  ornaments  —  Curious  brooches 
formed  of  palm-trees,  stags,  and  lions  —  Women  with  pigeons  — 
Golden  cuttle-fish,  butterflies,  swans,  hippocampi,  eagles,  sphinxes, 
trees,  and  birds  —  The  splendid  gold  crown  on  the  head  of  one  of 
the  bodies  —  Signs  upon   it  —  The    second   gold   crown  —  Five 


Ch.  VII.  1876.] 


THE  FIRST  SEPULCHRE. 


more  diadems  of  gold  —  Crosses  of  double  leaves  of  gold  —  Golden 
stars — A  gold  brooch,  and  other  ornaments  —  Necklaces  and 
bracelets  —  Two  pairs  of  golden  scales  —  Golden  plates  —  A  child's 
mask  of  gold  —  Other  ornaments  —  Balls,  &c.  of  rock  crystal,  silver, 
and  bronze,  probably  the  handles  of  sceptres — Lentoid  gems  of  agate, 
sardonyx,  &c,  with  intaglios  —  A  lentoid  gem  of  amethyst  engraved 
with  a  cow  suckling  her  calf,  as  on  the  old  coins  of  Corcyra — Gold 
wheels  —  A  gold  comb  with  bone  teeth,  &c.  —  Amber  beads  — 
Other  ornaments —  Pieces  of  gold-leaf  strewn  below  and  about  the 
bodies  —  A  gold  goblet  —  A  curious  gold  box,  and  gold  vases  with 
lids  fastened  on  by  wires  —  A  silver  vase  and  golden  sceptre-handle  — 
Boxes  of  copper  plate  filled  with  wood,  perhaps  pillows  for  the  dead 
bodies  —  Other  objects  found  in  the  third  sepulchre  —  Hand-made 
and  very  ancient  wheel-made  pottery. 

Mycenae,  December  6,  1876. 

The  four  sculptured  tombstones  having  been  removed  to 
the  village  of  Charvati,  in  order  to  be  sent  to  Athens,  I 
excavated  on  the  site  of  the  three  with  the  bas-reliefs  repre- 
senting the  warriors  and  the  hunting  scene,*  and  found 
a  quadrangular  tomb,  21  ft.  5  in.  long  and  10  ft.  4  in. 
broad,  cut  out  in  the  slope  of  the  rock.  The  earth  in  this 
tomb  consisted  of  the  detritus  of  house  remains  mixed 
with  natural  soil,  which  latter  had  been  brought  here  from 


No.  223.    Plan  of  Tombstones  in  the  first  Tomb 


another  place.  At  a  depth  of  3  ft.  3  in.  below  the  place 
where  the  tombstones  had  stood  I  found  a  curious  sort  ot 


*  See  Chapters  III.  and  IV.,  pp.  80-85,  88-90. 


THE  FIRST  SEPULCHRE. 


[Chap.  VII. 


monument,  consisting  of  two  long  and  narrow  slabs 
5  ft.  long,  7  in.  thick,  and  12  in.  broad,  lying  the  one 
upon  the  other,  and  at  their  south  end  a  smaller  slab 
2,4  ft.  long  in  an  oblique  position,  as  if  to  serve  for  a 
pillow  to  the  corpse  laid  down  on  the  upper  slab.  (See 
No.  223.)  The  latter  stone  had  a  border,  and  belongs 
evidently  to  another  monument,  of  which  the  other  two 
slabs  may  likewise  have  formed  part.  Most  probably  there 
was  once  on  this  tomb  a  large  monument,  ornamented 
with  the  three  sculptured  tombstones  which  now  marked 
its  site. 

In  digging  lower  down  I  found  from  time  to  time  a  very 
small  quantity  of  black  ashes,  and  in  this  very  frequently 
some  curious  objects  ;  such  as  a  bone  button  covered 
with  a  golden  plate,  with  a  beautiful  intaglio  ornamentation, 
or  an  imitation  of  a  ram's  horn  cut  out  of  ivory,  having  one 
flat  side  with  two  holes,  by  which  the  object  must  have 
been  attached  to  something  else,  or  other  ornaments  of 
bone  or  small  plates  of  gold.  I  collected  in  this  way  twelve 
gold  buttons  covered  with  gold  plates  ornamented  with 
intaglio  work,  one  of  which  is  as  large  as  a  five-franc  piece. 
The  ornamentation  of  the  gold  plates  consists  either  of 
spiral  lines  or  that  curious  cross  pfr1  with  the  marks  of  four 
nails,  which  so  frequently  occurs  on  the  whorls  in  Ilium, 
and  which  I  believe  to  be  the  symbol  of  the  holy  fire.*  All 
the  buttons  are  in  the  form  of  our  shirt-buttons,  but  larger, 
and  similar  to  those  shown  in  a  later  part  of  this  work. 
I  collected  there,  besides  the  buttons,  two  objects  of  ivory 
in  the  form  of  ram's-horns,  like  No.  225  ;  and  four  pieces 
of  ivory  in  the  form  of  a  crescent,  one  side  being  convex, 
the  other  flat,  in  which  are  four  holes  for  fixing  it  to 
something  else  (see  No.  224)  ;  six  long  and  narrow  pieces 
of  ivory,  like  227,  having  for  ornamentation  five  vertical 
incisions,  and  in  the  reverse  side  two  deep  vertical  cuts  for 


*  See  'Troy  and  its  Remains,'  pp.  103-106. 


1876.]  OBJECTS  OF  IVORY,  BONE,  ETC.  1 53 

attaching  them  on  another  object.  Very  probably  all  these 
objects  have  served  as  ornaments  on  horse-trappings. 
There  was  found  besides  the  ivory  needle,  No.  229 ; 
further,  six  buttons  of  hard  white  stone  with  a  circular 
hole  in  the  centre,  into  which  is  stuck  a  small  blue  stone 
(No.  226).  The  round  hole  in  the  centre  as  well  as  the 
presence  of  the  small  stones  in  it  are  inexplicable  to  me. 
There  were  also  found  a  small  button  of  the  same  sort,  the 
gold-plated  head  of  a  bronze  nail,  eight  long  thin  pieces 
and  four  large  disks  of  thin  gold  plate,  two  small  tube-like 


Nos.  224-239.    Objects  of  ivory,  bone,  or  metallic  composition.    Sepulchre  I.    Size  7  :  9. 


pieces  of  a  glassy  substance,  containing  in  the  interior  a 
small  tube  of  real  blue  glass,  of  which  I  shall  have  occasion 
to  speak  hereafter.  I  also  found  there  the  green  object 
(No.  228),  which  has  small  horizontal  flutings  all  round  : 
according  to  Professor  Landerer  it  consists  of  an  artificial 
substance  containing  oxide  of  copper,  which  has  been 
pressed  into  its  present  form.  The  earth  was  intermixed 
with  numerous  fragments  of  very  ancient  wheel-made 
pottery,  with  a  variegated  painted  ornamentation,  and  others 


JO 


154       THE  FIRST  AND  SECOND  SEPULCHRES.     [Chap.  VII. 

of  hand-made  monochromatic  lustrous  black  or  red  or 
light  green  pottery  with  black  spiral  ornamentation  ;  but 
to  my  astonishment  I  found  also  from  time  to  time  some 
fragments  of  painted  vases  made  on  the  potter's  wheel,  of 
those  sorts  which  are  found  even  in  the  upper  prehistoric 
strata,  and  which  most  decidedly  belong  to  a  much  later 
period. 

Among  the  most  interesting  of  the  hand-made  pottery 
are  the  large  lustrous  black  goblets,  with  a  hollow  foot  and 

horizontal  fiutings  in 
the  middle  (No.  230), 
which  are  frequent  in 
the  first  prehistoric 
city  of  Troy  ;  also  the 
light  green  or  yellow 
ones,  with  a  most 
fantastical  black  orna- 
mentation ;  and  the 
larger  vases  of  a  light 
red  dead  colour,  with 
dark  red  circles,  or 
with  two  protruding 
female  breasts  sur- 
rounded by  circles  of 
small  black  strokes. 

Having  dug  down 
to  a  depth  of  ioi  ft., 
I  was  stopped  by  heavy  rain,  which  turned  the  soft  earth 
in  the  tomb  to  mud,  and  I  therefore  took  out  the  two 
unsculptured  tombstones  of  the  second  line,  which  stood 
due  east  of  the  three  sculptured  ones,  and  at  a  distance 
of  20  ft.  from  them.  One  of  these  tombstones  was  5  ft., 
the  other  5  ft.  4  in.,  long.  In  excavating  around  them  I 
found  another  tomb  cut  in  the  rock,  1 1  ft.  8  in.  broad,  and 
in  length  21  ft.  3  in.  on  one  side,  and  19  ft.  8  in.  on  the 
other.    It  was  entirely  filled  with  unmixed  natural  earth. 


No.  230.    Foot  of  a  black  hand-made  Goblet. 
Sepulchre  I.    Size  6  :  7. 


1876.]         THREE  BODIES  IN  THE  SECOND  TOMB.  155 

which  had  been  brought  from  another  place.  At  from 
2  to  i\  ft.  below  the  two  tombstones  I  found  the  fragments 
of  two  other  tombstones,  also  unsculptured,  which  appeared 
to  be  older. 

At  a  depth  of  15  ft.  below  the  level  of  the  rock,  or  of 
25  ft.  below  the  former  surface  of  the  ground,  as  I  found 
it  when  I  began  the  excavations,  I  reached  a  layer  of 
pebbles,  below  which  I  found,  at  a  distance  of  three  feet 
from  each  other,  the  remains  of  three  human  bodies,  all 
with  the  head  turned  to  the  east  and  the  feet  to  the  west. 
They  were  only  separated  from  the  surface  of  the  levelled 
rock  by  another  layer  of  small  stones  on  which  they  were 
lying,  and  they  had  evidently  been  burned  simultaneously  in 
the  very  same  place  where  they  lay.  The  masses  of  ashes  of 
the  clothes  which  had  covered  them,  and  of  the  wood  which 
had  partially  or  entirely  consumed  their  flesh,  as  well  as  the 
colour  of  the  lower  layer  of  stones  and  the  marks  of  the 
fire  and  the  smoke  on  the  stone  wall,  which  at  the  bottom 
of  the  sepulchre  lined  all  the  four  sides — can  leave  no 
doubt  whatever  on  this  point  ;  nay  more,  there  were  the 
most  unmistakable  marks  of  three  distinct  funeral  piles. 
The  wall,  which  at  the  bottom  of  the  tomb  lined  its  four 
sides,  consisted  of  pretty  large  stones  joined  without  any 
binding  material;  it  was  5  ft.  high  and  1  ft.  8  in.  thick. 
The  small  stones  with  which  the  bottom  of  the  sepulchre 
was  strewn  can,  in  my  opinion,  have  had  no  other  object 
than  to  procure  ventilation  to  the  funeral  pyres.  These 
could  not  have  been  large,  and  had  evidently  been  intended 
to  consume  merely  the  clothes  and  partly  or  entirely  the 
flesh  of  the  deceased  ;  but  no  more,  because  the  bones  and 
even  the  skulls  had  been  preserved  j  but  these  latter  had 
suffered  so  much  from  the  moisture,  that  none  of  them 
could  be  taken  out  entire. 

On  every  one  of  the  three  bodies  I  found  five  diadems 
of  thin  gold-plate,  like  those  to  be  presently  described,* 


*  See  Nos.  282-284,  PP-  186,  188. 


156  THE  SECOND  SEPULCHRE.  [Chap.  VII. 

each  195  in.  long,  and  4  in.  broad  in  the  middle,  from 
which  it  gradually  diminishes  to  a  point  at  both  ends.  The 
pointed  ends  have  been  broken  off,  but,  as  several  of  the 
other  diadems  have  such  points,  there  can  be  no  doubt  that 
all  had  been  fashioned  in  the  same  way.  All  the  diadems 
were  piped  with  copper  wires  in  order  to  give  them  more 
solidity,  and  a  great  many  fragments  of  those  copper  wires 
were  found.  All  the  fifteen  diadems  show  the  very  same  or- 
namentation of  repoussS  work,  consisting  of  a  border  of  two 
lines  on  either  side,  between  which  we  see  a  row  of  treble 
concentric  circles,  which  increase  or  diminish  in  size  ac- 
cording to  the  breadth  of  the  diadem,  the  largest  circle  being 
in  the  middle.  Between  these  treble  circles  is  on  either 
side  a  row  of  smaller  double  concentric  circles,  which  like- 
wise increase  or  diminish  in  size  in  proportion  to  the  breadth 
of  the  diadems.  As  well  in  the  larger  treble  as  in  the 
smaller  double  circles,  the  central  or  innermost  circle  is 
always  hammered  so  as  to  protrude,  which  gives  to  the 
diadems  a  splendid  aspect.  The  diadems  had  at  one  end  a 
pin  (e/i/3oXo^),  and  at  the  other  a  tube  (cuiAicr/cos)  by  means 
of  which  they  were  fixed  round  the  head ;  of  course  in 
such  a  way  that  the  largest  treble  circle  was  just  -in  the 
middle  of  the  forehead. 

I  further  found  with  two  of  the  bodies  ten  very  thin 
golden  crosses  (five  with  each  body),  formed  of  laurel  leaves 
(No.  231);  with  the  third  body  there  were  only  four  of 
them.  Each  of  these  crosses  is  J%  in.  long ;  the  breadth 
of  the  leaves  is  if  in.  The  leaves  of  all  the  fourteen  crosses 
have  also  been  piped  with  thin  copper  wire,  to  give  them 
more  firmness.  The  ornamentation  of  the  leaves  is  likewise 
of  repoussd  work.  It  presents  all  round  the  leaves  a  small 
border  formed  by  a  line,  on  which  lies  an  uninterrupted 
row  of  double  concentric  ovals  in  a  slanting  position,  which 
are  probably  also  meant  to  represent  leaves.  In  this  way 
the  whole  leaf  is  encircled  by  a  broad  band  of  such  double 
ovals  or  leaves,  and  the  space  left  is  filled  up  with  three 
double  concentric  circles. 


1876.] 


TUBES  OF  CO  HALT  GLASS. 


'57 


I  also  found  with  the  bodies  many  curious  objects  ;  for 
example,  small  cylinders  with  a  small  tube  throughout  their 
length,  as  well  as  square  pieces  composed  of  four  such 
cylinders,  of  which  however  only  those  at  the  two  extre- 
mities have  perforations.  All  these  things  have  a  greyish- 
white  colour,  and  consist  of  a  very  soft  matter,  which  falls 
into  dust  when  pressed  but  softly  with  the  hand.  In  the 
interior  of  each  cylinder  there  is  a  hard,  blue  transparent 
tube,  which  Professor  Landerer  has  analysed  and  found  to 


No.  .'ii.    A  cross  of  golden  laurel  leatcs.    Sepulchre  II.    Size  4  :  5,  about. 


consist  of  cobalt  glass.  Within  the  blue  tube  again  is  a 
small  thin  white  tube,  which  shines  like  silver,  and  Professor 
Landerer  has  found  it  to  consist  of  a  glassy  substance  con- 
taining lead  [bleihalHg).  According  to  Professor  Landerer, 
this  discovery  proves  that  the  ancient  Myceneans  knew  the 
colouring  of  glass  as  well  as  the  art  of  encompassing  a 
tube  of  glass  with  a  second  and  a  third  one.*  lie  assures 
me  that  the  analysis  of  Egyptian  glass  has  given  the  same 


•  Called  in  German  the  '  Unifangsmethode.' 


i58 


THE  SECOND  SEPULCHRE. 


[Chap.  VII. 


result,  and  he  supposes  that  the  cobalt- glasses  were  derived 
from  Egypt.  He  further  mentions  that  all  present  blue- 
coloured  glasses  are  of  such  cobalt-glass.  All  these  cylinders 
and  square  pieces  of  four  cylinders  must  have  served  as 
ornaments  of  the  corpses. 

The  fabrication  of  glass  was  evidently  in  its  very 
beginning  at  the  time  the  tombs  were  constructed;  but  it 
seems  to  have  made  no  progress  here,  for,  except  a  few  white 
glass  pearls  and  some  small  ornaments  of  a  glass  paste, 
nothing  was  found  of  this  article  even  in  the  upper  strata, 
and  it  appears  certain  that  at  the  capture  of  Mycenae  by 
the  Argives  (468  b.c.)  even  the  small  glass  bottles,  often 
found  elsewhere,  were  still  entirely  unknown. 

I  further  found  a  number  of  small  knives  of  obsidian, 
many  fragments  of  a  large  silver  vase  with  a  mouth  of 
copper,  which  is  thickly  plated  with  gold  and  splendidly 
ornamented  with  intaglio  work ;  unfortunately  it  has 
suffered  too  much  from  the  funeral  fire  to  be  photographed. 
It  appears  that  the  Mycenean  goldsmiths  found  it  much 
easier  to  plate  on  copper  than  on  silver  ;  hence  they  made 
the  mouth  of  this  silver  vase  of  copper.  I  also  found  a 
long  and  a  short  rusted  bronze  knife ;  a  silver  cup  (^laX/ry) 
with  one  handle,  much  damaged  by  the  fire ;  four  long 
perforated  necklace-beads  (two  of  agate  and  two  of  a 
glassy  composition)  ;  a  bronze  vase  handle ;  two  horned 
Hera-idols  of  terra-cotta,  of  the  usual  form  ;  and  finally, 
many  fragments  of  beautiful  hand-made  and  of  very  ancient 
wheel-made  pottery,  among  which  was  part  of  a  vase  with 
two  tubular  holes  on  either  side  for  suspension  with  a 
string,  like  the  vases  in  the  lowest  prehistoric  city  of  Ilium.* 
There  are  also  fragments  of  terra-cotta  tripods,  of  which  I 
found  such  an  enormous  quantity  at  Troy,|  but  which  are 

*  See  'Troy  and  its  Remains,'  p.  310,  No.  222,  where  "rings" 
should  rather  have  been  "  tubes  "  or  "  tubular  rings." 
t  Ibid.  p.  285,  No.  199. 


1876.J        ANTIQUITY  OF  HORNED  FEMALE  IDOLS.  159 

less  frequent  at  Mycenae,  nearly  all  the  vases  having  a  flat 
bottom.  In  this  tomb  was  also  found  the  fragment  of 
a  vase,  ornamented  with  a  sign  which  is  nothing  else  than  a 
pM,  the  four  arms  of  which  have  merely  been  converted 
into  a  spiral  form. 

The  most  important  objects  found  in  this  tomb  are  no 
doubt  the  two  two-horned  Hera-idols  previously  mentioned, 
because  they  prove  to  us  that  the  goddess  was  already  wor- 
shipped, in  this  shape,  in  that  remote  antiquity  to  which  the 
sepulchre  belongs.  As  the  very  same  type  of  the  idol  is 
found  in  all  the  strata  of  prehistoric  ruins,  and  even  in  the 
ddbris  of  the  houses  which  just  preceded  the  later  Hellenic- 
city,  it  appears  certain  that  it  was  still  in  use  at  the  time  of 
the  capture  of  Mycenae  by  the  Argives  (468  B.C.),  and 
consequently  it  remained  here  unchanged  for  more  than  a 
thousand  years.  It  is  true  that  in  all  the  prehistoric  strata 
of  dibris  above  the  tombs  there  are  also  found  female 
idols  of  a  different  shape,  which  we  cannot  but  assign  to 
Hera;  but,  as  their  number  is  only  very  small  as  com- 
pared to  the  mass  of  horned  idols,  we  may  take  it  tor 
granted  that  the  horned  idol  was  the  most  ancient,  and 
that  therefore  the  Myceneans  clung  with  tenacity  to  that 
form. 

The  most  remarkable  wheel-made  terra-cottas  found 
in  this  tomb  represent  the  lower  parts  of  birds,  in  black 
colour  on  a  light  yellow  dead  ground.  I  also  found  two 
fragments  of  a  hand-made  vase  belonging  to  the  upper  part 
of  the  bulge,  with  two  female  breasts  ;  a  large  fragment 
of  a  most  ancient  wheel-made  vase,  presenting  on  a  light 
yellow  dead  ground  a  beautiful  and  fantastic  ornamentation 
of  plants,  circles  or  wave-like  lines,  painted  in  a  very  dark 
red  colour  (see  Nos.  232,  233).  These  two  fragments  give 
a  good  illustration  of  Mr.  Chas.  T.  Newton's  remarks  on 
the  9th  June  in  the  Royal  Institution  of  London:  "The 
floral  ornaments  of  the  Mycenean  vases  have  a  certain 
vague  freedom  and  straggling  lawless  luxuriance,  which 


i6o 


THE  SECOND  SEPULCHRE.  [Chap.  VII. 


seems  to  imply  the  facility  of  hand  which  long  practice 
gives.  The  animal  forms  are  ungainly  and  constrained  in 
action,  and  the  anatomy  is  for  the  most  part  entirely 
ignored  or  most  feebly  rendered.  The  floral  and  animal 
patterns  seem  to  be  the  result  of  impressions  from  nature 
sufficiently  vivid  to  awaken  the  mimetic  faculty  in  an 
uncultivated  mind,  but  which  the  untrained  hand  was 
unable  to  render  in  art." 


Nos.  232,  233.    Fragments  of  a  very  ancient  wheel-made  Vase.    Sepulchre  II.    Size  1  :  3,  about. 


I  also  found  here  five  fragments  of  very  ancient 
wheel-made  vases,  having  an  ornamentation,  in  similar 
colours,  of  network,  waving  lines,  plants,  lines  of  points, 
&c. ;  and  finally  some  fragments  of  very  ancient  wheel- 
made  vases.  Six  of  these  fragments,  which  evidently 
belong  to  the  same  vase,  have,  on  a  light  red  dead  ground, 
an  ornamentation  of  crosses  with  four  points.  One  has 
in  its  pointed  bottom  a  perforation,  and  may  have  served 


1876.]  THE  THIRD  SEPULCHRE.  l6l 

as  a  sort  of  funnel.  Another  has  the  most  curious  orna- 
mentation of  all ;  it  shews  above  what  appears  to  be  intended 
for  the  head  of  a  serpent ;  to  the  right  is  a  circle  sur- 
rounded by  points,  and  in  its  centre  a  crescent  and  six 
points ;  to  the  left  of  this  is  another  circle,  filled  with  and 
surrounded  by  points. 

Encouraged  by  the  success  obtained  in  the  second  tomb, 
I  took  out  the  two  large  unsculptured  tombstones  of  the 
third  line,  which  stood  almost  due  south  of  the  former. 
One  of  them  is  6  ft.  4  in.  long,  and  4  ft.  broad ;  the  other 
is  4  ft.  10  in.  long  and  4  ft.  4  in.  broad.  They  were  ex- 
tremely well  fastened  by  square  blocks,  so  that  they  could 
not  be  got  out  without  great  efforts.  These  tombstones 
stood  precisely  13  ft.  4  in.  below  the  surface,  as  I  found  it 
when  I  began  the  excavations,,  Two  feet  below  them,  and 
thus  1 5  ft.  4  in.  below  the  former  surface,  I  found  two 
large  slabs  in  the  form  of  sepulchral  monuments,  lying 
horizontally.  At  a  depth  of  5  ft.  lower  I  brought  to  light 
three  more  slabs,  the  one  lying,  the  other  two  standing,  as 
follows : — 


No.  234.    Plan  of  Tombstones  above  the  Third  Tomb. 


The  soil  consisted  of  black  earth,  intermixed  with 
fragments  of  hand-made  and  very  ancient  wheel-made 
pottery,  and  masses  of  small  knives  of  obsidian.  Besides  a 
small  number  of  Hera-idols,  I  found  there  a  solid  piece  of 
ivory,  one  inch  high  and  broad,  in  the  form  of  a  beehive, 
having  in  the  lower  flat  side  a  tubular  hole  for  suspension 


21 


162  THE  THIRD  SEPULCHRE.  [Chap.  VII. 

with  a  thread  ;  while  on  the  convex  or  globular  side  is  an 
engraved  cross,  embellished  with  five  gold  pins  with  flat 
heads,  each  of  which  has  a  small  hole  in  the 
centre  of  its  head  (see  No.  235) ;  also  apiece 
of  wood,  4  in.  long  and  2  in.  broad,  with 
beautifully  carved  spiral  lines  (No.  222),* 
Piece  of  ornamented   which  seems  to  belong  to  a  box  (vdpdr)^)  ; 

3  4  also  two  well-polished  pieces  of  wood  with 
sharp  points,  but  otherwise  almost  in  the  form  of  long 
thin  cones. 

In  digging  deeper  I  found  that,  at  a  distance  of  33  ft. 
from  the  east  side  of  the  circular  double  parallel  row  of 
large  slabs  which  encloses  the  Agora,  the  rock  suddenly 
slopes,  for  a  space  of  30  ft.  in  length  and  width,  at  an 
angle  of  30  degrees,  the  perpendicular  height  of  the 
slope  being  i6i  ft.  Further  to  the  west  the  rock  forms 
a  platform  30  ft.  long  and  broad,  with  two  sepulchres, 
of  which  I  shall  first  describe  the  smaller  one,  because 
the  aforesaid  two  tombstones  stood  at  a  height  of 
i6i  ft.  above  its  mouth.  This  sepulchre,  which  in  the 
Plan  B  I  call  the  Third  Tomb,  is  16  ft.  8  in.  long, 
and  10  ft.  2  in.  broad,  and  it  is  cut  into  the  rock,  on 
the  west  side  2  ft.  4  in.,  on  the  south  side  3  ft.  4  in., 
on  the  east  side  7  ft.,  and  on  the  north  5  ft.  deep.f 
These  different  depths  find  their  explanations  in  the 
slope  and  in  the  unevenness  of  the  rock,  because  the 
bottom  of  the  tomb  is  of  course  perfectly  horizontal.  At 
about  9  ft.  above  the  mouth  of  this  tomb  I  discovered 
close  to  it,  on  the  slope  of  the  rock,  at  a  depth  of  21  ft. 
below  the  former  surface,  a  number  of  skeletons  of  men, 
which  had  evidently  not  been  on  the  funeral  pyre,  but  were 
so  much  destroyed  by  the  moisture  that  none  of  the  skulls 
could  be  taken  out  entire.  The  only  objects  I  found  with 
them  were  knives  of  obsidian  and  five  very  pretty  hand- 


*  See  Vignette  to  this  chapter. 


t  See  Plan  B  B. 


1876.]  ROCK  IN  CENTRE  OF  THE  AGORA.  163 

made  vases,  two  of  which  are  of  plain  light  yellow,  the 
three  others  of  a  light  green  colour,  with  a  rude  black 
ornamentation  (see  Nos.  236,  237). 

Immediately  to  the  north  of  the  tomb  in  question,  and 
thus  in  the  centre  of  the  Agora,  I  brought  to  light  the 
before-mentioned  rock  which  protrudes  from  the  plateau, 
and  has,  in  my  opinion,  served  as  the  platform  or  pulpit 
(jS-rjfjia)  for  the  orators.  It  had  been  split  and  was  over- 
hanging the  great  hollow  in  which  are  the  two  tombs 
just  referred  to.  Below  this  rock,  at  a  depth  of  22  ft. 
below  the  surface,  many  Hera-idols,  whorls,  and  other 


Nos.  236,  337.    Hand-made  Vases  uf  Terra  cotta.    Depth  ao  ft.  Half-size. 


objects  were  found  ;  also  a  very  curious  sort  of  bronze 
dagger  (No.  238),  consisting  of  two  separate  two-edged 
blades,  which  had  been  soldered  together  in  the  middle, 
so  that  the  four  edges  are  separated  from  each  other  by  a 
quarter  of  an  inch;  both  blades  are  10  in.  long,  the  whole 
dagger  being  13  inches  long.  The  handle  has  evidently 
been  inlaid  with  wood  or  bone,  fastened  by  three  small 
nails  of  bronze,  which  are  preserved.  As  I  considered 
one  of  the  overhanging  rocks  particularly  dangerous,  I  did 
all  I  could  to  keep  my  workmen  back  from  it  ;  however, 
as,  in  order  to  stimulate  the  workmen  to  be  very  attentive, 
I  am  in  the  habit  of  giving  them  a  drink-penny  for  all 
objects,  even  the  most  trifling,  which  have  any  interest  for 


164 


THE  THIRD  SEPULCHRE. 


[Chap.  VII. 


science,  and  as  so  many  small  objects  were  found  just 
below  the  dangerous  rock,  two  of  my  workmen  always 
returned  to  the  spot.  But  seeing  that  the  rock  had  a 
crack  which  widened,  I  literally  dragged  the  two  men 
from  their  perilous  position,  when  all  at 
once  the  rock  fell  with  a  thundering  crash, 
and  we  were  all  three  knocked  down  by 
its  splinters,  but  none  of  us  was  injured. 

The  four  walls  of  the  tomb  which  now 
occupies  us  were  lined  with  pieces  of 
schist  of  irregular  size,  which  were  joined 
with  clay,  and  formed  a  slanting  wall  5  ft. 
high  and  2  ft.  3  in.  broad. 

I  found  in  this  sepulchre  the  mortal 
remains  of  three  persons  who,  to  judge 
by  the  smallness  of  the  bones  and  par- 
ticularly of  the  teeth,  and  by  the  masses 
of  female  ornaments  found  here,  must 
have  been  women.  As  the  teeth  of  one 
of  these  bodies,  though  all  preserved,  were 
evidently  much  used  and  were  very  ir- 
regular, they  appear  to  belong  to  a  very 
old  woman.  All  had  the  head  turned  to 
the  east  and  the  feet  to  the  west.  As 
in  the  former  tomb,  the  bodies  lay  at  a 
distance  of  3  ft.  from  each  other  ;  they 
were  covered  with  a  layer  of  pebbles  and 
reposed  on  another  layer  of  similar  stones, 
on  which  the  funeral  piles  had  been 
raised  ;  this  last  stratum  lay  on  the 
bottom  of  the  tomb,  which,  as  is  shown 
on  Plan  B  B,  was  29  ft.  8  in.  deep  below 
the  former  surface  of  the  mount. 
Precisely  as  in  the  former  tomb,  all  the  three  bodies 
had  been  burnt  simultaneously,  but  separately  and  at 
equal  distances  from  each  other,  nay,  in  the  very  place 


No.  238. 
A  large  bronze  dagger, 
with  two  blades  soldered 
together  in  the  middle. 
(6iM.)    Size  7  :  20. 


1876.]  SEVEN  HUNDRED  GOLD  PLATES.  165 

where  they  now  lay.  This  was  proved  by  the  evident 
marks  of  the  fire  on  the  pebbles  below  and  around  every 
one  of  the  bodies,  as  well  as  by  the  marks  of  the  fire  and 
the  smoke  on  the  walls  to  the  right  and  left,  and  by  the 
masses  of  wood  ashes  which  lay  on  and  around  the  bodies. 
The  bodies  were  literally  laden  with  jewels,  all  of  which 
bore  evident  signs  of  the  fire  and  smoke  to  which  they  had 
been  exposed  on  the  funeral  piles. 

The  ornaments  of  which  the  greatest  number  was 
found  were  the  large,  thick,  round  plates  of  gold,  with 
a  very  pretty  decoration  of  repousst  work,  of  which  I 
collected  701.  I  found  them  as  well  below  as  above  and 
around  the  bodies,  and  there  can  consequently  be  no 
doubt  that  part  of  them  were  strewn  all  over  the  bottom 
of  the  sepulchre  before  the  funeral  pyres  were  dressed, 
and  that  the  rest  were  laid  on  the  bodies  before  the  fire 
was  kindled.  In  the  following  engravings  *  I  give  all  the 
different  types  of  these  wonderful  plates.  It  is  difficult  to 
say  how  the  Mycenean  goldsmiths  executed  the  rcpousst 
work.  Professor  Landerer  thinks  they  laid  the  gold-plate 
on  a  block  of  lead,  and  hammered  and  pressed  the 
ornamentation  into  it.  No.  239  contains  broad  round 
waving  bands  much  resembling  those  on  the  fourth 
sculptured  tombstone.']'  The  curious  ornamentation  in 
the  centre,  which  so  often  recurs  here,  seems  to  me  to  be 
derived  from  the  p^,  the  more  so  as  the  points  whic  h 
are  thought  to  be  the  marks  of  the  nails,  are  seldom 
missing;  the  artist  has  only  added  two  more  arms  and 
curved  all  of  them.  No.  240  represents  an  octopus  or 
cuttle-fish  (sepia),  whose  eight  arms  have  been  converted 
into  spirals,  the  head  with  the  two  eyes  being  distinctly 
visible.  No.  241  represents  a  flower;  No.  242  a  splendid 
spiral  ornamentation  ;  No.  243,  a  beautiful  butterfly ;  this 

*  All  these  are  engraved  in  their  actual  size, 
t  See  No.  142,  p.  91. 


THE  THIRD  SEPULCHRE 


[Chap.  VII. 


No.  239.    Plate  of  Gold.    Sepulchre  III. 


type  is  exceedingly  frequent.  Whether,  as  in  the  later 
Greek  art,  the  butterfly  is  here  the  symbol  of  immortality,  as 


No.  240.    Plate  of  Gold  :  a  Cuttle-fish.    Sepulchre  III. 


1 876.] 


PLATES  OF  GOLD. 


167 


No.  242.    A  Plate  of  Gold.    Sepulchre  III 


i68 


THE  THIRD  SEPULCHRE. 


[Chap.  VII. 


No.  243.    Plate  of  Gold  :  a  Butterfly.    Sepulchre  III. 


form  of  six  serpents,  round  a  central  circle.  In  No.  245 
we  at  once  recognise  again  the  ornamentation  of  the 


No.  244.    Plate  of  Gold.    Sepulchre  III. 


PLATES  OF  GOLD. 


169 


No.  345.    A  Plate  of  Gold.    Sepulchre  111. 


sepulchral  stcld  (No.  142),  as  in  No.  239,  which  this  one 
very  much  resembles.    No.  246  has  a  most  curious  pattern, 


No.  246.    A  Plate  of  Gold.    Sepulchre  III. 


22 


THE  THIRD  SEPULCHRE. 


[Chap.  VII. 


No.  248. 


A  leaf-pattern  in  Gold  Plate.    Sepulchre  III. 


1876.] 


No.  34).    A  leaf-pattern  111  (Juki  Plate,    Sepulchre  III 


seven  concentric  circles,  and  all  united  around  an  ornament 
likewise  of  seven  concentric  circles,  which  the  artist  seems 


^^^^^^^^ 

No.  250.    A  leaf-pattern  in  Gold  Plate.    Sepulchre  III 


THE  THIRD  SEPULCHRE. 


[Chap.  VII 


No.  251.    A  Star  in  Gold  Plate.    Sepulchre  111. 


to  have  vainly  tried  to  unite  at  the  upper  part.  Each  of 
the  spirals  separately  very  much  resembles  the  hair-springs 


No.  252.    A  Plate  of  Gold.    Sepulchre  III. 


1876.]  HERCULES  AND  THE  NEMEAN  LION.  173 

of  our  watches,  at  least  at  the  first  glance,  but  on  closer 
examination  we  rind  that  all  the  interior  lines  form  separate 
circles.  Nos.  247-250  represent  beautiful  leaves,  all  of 
a  kindred  pattern.  No.  251  represents  a  beautiful  star- 
flower;  No.  252  shows  within  a  border  of  three  circles  a 
splendid  ornamentation  of  spirals  and  concentric  circles, 
such  as  we  have  not  seen  yet  on  the  Mycenean  antiquities. 

I  suppose  that  all  these  golden  leaves  are  miniature 
copies  of  shields,  for  though  there  were  shields  with  a 
central  boss,*  yet  the  majority  of  them  were  smooth 
(Ifeny)f:  further  most  shields  were  round  (evKVKko<;),l 
and  many  of  them,  if  not  all,  were  works  of  art  and  beauti- 
fully ornamented. §  We  further  find  around  the  Homeric 
shields  a  border  (dprvt;),  which  may  have  been  sometimes 
single,  but  which  certainly  was  usually  treble, J|  and  such  a 
border  we  also  find  represented  on  several  of  these  golden 
plates. 

In  proceeding  to  describe  the  masses  of  other  jewels 
which  had  covered  the  bodies  on  the  pyres  and  which  still 
lay  partly  on  them  and  partly  around  them,  I  begin  with 
three  perforated  massive  ornaments  of  gold,  belonging  to 
necklaces,  of  which  the  first  (No.  253)  appears  to  represent, 
in  intaglio,  Hercules  killing  the  Nemean  lion.  The  hero  is 
represented  here  with  long  hair  (KaprjKOfjLoajv)  and  with  a 
long  beard ;  his  dress  appears  to  reach  only  from  the 
waist  to  the  middle  of  the  loins,  and  the  rest  of  the  body 
seems  to  be  naked.    Having  stepped  forward  with  his  left 


*  See  Iliad,  XXII.  111,  «o-7ris  o/xffxAotaaa ;  comp.  'Troy  and  its 
Remains,'  p.  324. 

+  See  Iliad,  III.  357  ;  VII.  250;  and  in  many  other  passages. 
J  See  Iliad,  XIII.  715  ;  XIV.  428;  and  in  other  passages. 
§  See  for  example  //.  XI.  32  : — 

an  5'  H\(t'  an<pifip6Tr)i/ ,  iro\vSalSa\ov  arrirlSa  6ovpiv. 
"  Then  he  took  the  man-covering,  artistically  ma<!e,  powerful  shield." 

See  also  all  the  wonders  which  Hephaestus  wrought  on  the  shield 
of  Achilles.  //.  XVIII.  468-608. 

||  See,  for  example,  //.  XX.  275,  and  XVIII.  480. 


i74 


THE  THIRD  SEPULCHRE. 


[Chap.  VII 


foot,  he  leans  the  whole  weight  of  his  body  on  it  to  deal 
a  deadly  blow  at  the  lion  with  a  sword  which  he  holds 
in  his  uplifted  right  hand,  whilst  with  his  left  he  seizes  the 
lion's  throat.  The  animal  stands  before  him  on  his  hind- 
legs,  and  has  pounced  with  his  fore-feet  on  the  left  leg  of  the 
hero,  whom  he  is  going  to  bite  in  the  breast  when  he 
receives  the  deadly  blow.  The  body  of  the  lion  appears 
to  me  to  be  faithful  to  nature,  but  not  the  head,  which 
resembles  more  a  bear's  head  ;  the  mane  is  engraved  with 
true  art.  I  call  particular  attention  to  the  large  round 
knob  at  the  end  of  the  handle  of  the  sword,  because  many 
such,  all  of  alabaster  or  wood  with  golden  nails,  and  fre- 
quently plated  with  gold,  were  found  in  the  tombs  suc- 
cessively discovered. 


Nos.  253,  254,  255.    Perforated  Ornaments  of  Gold,  with  engravings  in  intaglio.    Sepulchre  III. 

Actual  size. 


The  intaglio  on  the  following  smaller  ornament  (No.  254) 
represents  two  warriors  fighting  a  deadly  duel.  The  one  to 
the  left  of  the  spectator  is  a  tall,  powerful  beardless  young 
man  with  an  uncovered  head,  whose  loins  only  are  covered, 
the  rest  of  the  body  being  naked.  He  leans  with  all  the 
weight  of  his  body  on  his  advanced  left  leg,  and  with  his 
uplifted  right  hand  he  has  just  plunged  his  double-edged 
sword  into  the  throat  of  his  antagonist,  who  falls  mortally 
wounded.  This  latter  is  represented  with  a  long  beard. 
His  head  is  covered  with  a  helmet,  over  which  we  see  a 
half-circle,  which  appears  to  be  fastened  into  the  fore-part  of 
the  helmet  and  to  represent  the  long  curved  horn  which 
we  see  protruding  from  the  fore-part  of  the  helmets  of  the 
five  warriors  (No.  213).*    The  horn  seems  here  to  be 


*  See  p.  133. 


1876.]  ACHILLES  AND  HECTOR?  I  73 

nothing  else  than  a  \6(f>o<;,  into  which  the  crest  was  sunk, 
for  this  appears  also  to  be  visible.  But  should  this  conjec- 
ture not  be  correct,  then  we  can  only  explain  the  half- 
circle  above  the  warrior's  helmet  by  supposing  that  the 
middle  part  of  the  crest  was  fastened  on  the  top  of  the  <f>d\o<; 
of  the  helmet,  so  that  there  were  properly  two  crests  waving. 
On  the  wounded  man's  body  we  see  a  round  shield  with  a 
circle  of  small  points,  probably  meant  to  represent  the  glitter 
of  the  brass.  The  shield  being  divided  into  an  upper  and 
a  lower  compartment,  it  may  be  that  the  artist  intended  to 
represent  two  shields,  of  which  the  lower  one  belonged  to 
the  wounded  man,  who  had  just  let  it  fall,  and  that  the 
upper  shield  belonged  to  the  victor,  whose  left  hand  still 
holds  it.  The  anatomy  of  the  two  warriors  is  represented 
clearly,  though  rudely,  and  we  wonder  how  this  was  at  all 
possible  without  the  aid  of  magnifying  glasses.  I  ask 
whether  we  do  not  see  here  in  the  young,  powerful, 
handsome  man,  Achilles,  the  most  beautiful  man  in  the 
Greek  army ;  and  in  his  antagonist,  "  Hector  of  the 
dancing  helmet-crest;"*  for,  just  as  we  see  represented  on 
this  bead,  Hector  was  slain  by  Achilles  by  a  stab  in  the 
throat.  It  is  true  that  the  fatal  stab  was  given,  according 
to  IIomer,f  with  a  lance,  but  the  artist  may  have  substi- 
tuted a  sword  for  want  of  space. 

The  third  ornament  (No.  255)  represents,  in  good 
intaglio,  a  lion  kneeling  with  his  fore-feet  on  an  uneven 
rocky  slope,  and  turning  his  head  round  to  the  right  ; 
though,  like  the  two  other  ornaments,  this  intaglio  is  vt  r\ 
archaic  and  rude,  it  is,  like  them,  tolerably  executed,  and 
the  anatomy  of  the  animal  is  carefully  observed.  Mr. 
Achilles  Postolaccas  calls  my  attention  to  the  fact  that 
this  lion  in  its  style  perfectly  resembles  the  tore-part  of 
the  lion  which  we  see  on  the  gold  staters  of  Sardis  in 
Lydia,  which  Borrel  attributes  to  Croesus  (560  B.C.). 


*  Kopv$aio\os  "EKTiop.    Comp.  'Troy  and  its  Remains,'  p.  281. 
t  //.  XXII.  326. 


1 76  THE  THIRD  SEPULCHRE.  [Chap.  VII. 

Of  the  other  golden  ornaments  here  shown,  No. 
256  represents  a  butterfly  of  gold,  which  has,  no  doubt, 
served  as  an  ornament  on  the  dress ;  but,  as  it  has  no 
perforation,  it  is  not  clear  to  me  how  it  may  have  been 
fastened  ;  probably  it  has  been  glued  or  pasted  on  the 
drapery.  Further,  ten  golden  grasshoppers*  with  chains,  of 
which  Nos.  2,59  and  260  represent  two;  they  appear  to 
have  been  used  as  ornaments  of  the  breast  or  hair.  I 
collected  also  eleven  very  curious  large  globular  ornaments, 


256     257  258  259  260 


Nos.  256-260.    Golden  Ornaments.    Sepulchre  III.    Actual  size. 


of  which  Nos.  257  and  258  give  the  engravings  of  two;  all 
have  a  tubular  hole  at  the  top,  and  are  evidently  from  neck- 
laces. These  ornaments,  as  well  as  the  crickets,  are  of  repousse- 


*  More  properly  the  tree  cricket  (t£tti£,  Lat.  cicada,  It.  cigaia,  Fr. 
cigale),  of  which  the  Athenians  wore  golden  images  in  their  hair,  to 
denote  their  autochthonic  origin.  Hence  it  was  probably  the  common 
badge  of  the  cognate  Achaean  and  old  Ionian  races. 


1876.J  GOLDEN  GRIFFINS.  177 

work,  and  consist  of  two  halves,  which  were  soldered 
together. 

I  further  collected  there  three  griffins  of  gold,  of  which 
I  represent  one  (No.  261);  the  upper  part  of  their 
bodies  is  that  of  an  eagle,  the  lower 
that  of  a  lion ;  the  wing  is  orna- 
mented with  spirals.  Each  of  these 
objects  has  three  perforations,  which 
can  leave  no  doubt  that  they  have 
been  sewn  on  the  clothes  as  orna- 
ments.    The  griffins    are    mythic      n„.      Golden Onmmeat. 

•        111  '  t      1*  1  A  Griffin.    Sepulchre  III 

animals  belonging  to  India,  whence  usual  ibe. 

they  came  over  to  the  West.  We 

rind  the  griffin  on  the  most  ancient  fictile  vases  of  a 
rude  Egyptianising  style,  in  company  with  sphinxes  and 
winged  lions.  This  fantastical  animal  has  become  the 
central  point  of  a  curious  legendary  cycle,  for  we  rind  ir 
already  mentioned  in  Hesiod  and  Herodotus  as  watcher 
of  the  gold  in  the  far  north  of  Europe.*  Pliny  describes 
the  gryphi  as  fcrarnm  value  rc  genus,  which  mira  cupidi- 
tatc  dig  up  the  gold  ex  CUrticulis  and  watch  it,  like- 
wise in  the  north  of  Europe,  that  is,  in  the  land  of  the 
Scythians. f  Damis  Olearj  maintains  that  the  griffins  have 
been  derived  from  India,  and  gives  the  following  description 
of  them:  "The  gold  which  the  griffins  dig  up  consists  of 
stones  incrusted  with  golden  drops  like  fiery  points,  which 
they  beat  off  by  the  power  of  their  hard  beak.  These 
animals  are  found  in  India,  where  they  are  sacred  to  the 


1  lerodotus,  III.  13,  1 4. 
Milton  alludes  to  this  legend  (Par.  lost.  l!k.  II.): — 
"  As  when  a  gryphon  through  the  wilderness 

With  winged  course  o'er  hill  or  moory  dale 
Pursues  the  Ariniaspian,  who  l>v  stealth 
Had  from  his  wakeful  custody  puiloined 
The  guarded  gold.'* 

t  //.  N.  VII.  2  ;  XXXIII.  4,  a  1. 

%  Apud  Philostrat.  /  //.  Apoll.  Txan.  III.  4.X.  p.  134. 


»3 


[78  THE  THIRD  SEPULCHRE.  [Chap.  VII. 

sun,  whence  the  Indian  painters  represent  Helios  riding  on 
teams  of  four  griffins.  The  griffin  has  the  size  and  strength 
of  the  lion,  but  is  superior  to  the  latter  by  its  wings,  and 
vanquishes  even  elephants  and  large  serpents.  But  he 
cannot  overpower  the  tiger,  who  excels  by  his  rapid 
motion."  Bottiger*  explains  these  monsters  as  simple 
productions  of  the  Indian  carpet-manufacture,  because 
from  a  remote  antiquity  the  Indians  delight  in  com- 
pounding their  sacred  animals.  It  appears  certain  that  the 
griffin  came  in  the  retinue  of  Dionysus  from  India  to 
Greece,  and  that  it  therefore  became  here  the  symbol  of 
wisdom  and  enlightenment. 

I  further  found  with  the  three  bodies  of  the  third  tomb 
three  ornaments  in  the  shape  of  hearts,  of  which  I  give  the 

engraving  of  one  (No. 
262).  As  they  have  no 
perforations,  they  must 
have  been  glued  on  to 
the  drapery.  There 
were  also  found  four 

Nos.  262,  263.    Golden  Ornaments.    Heart  and  Lion.  P'olden    OmamentS  ( SCC 

Sepulchre  III.    Actual  size.  O  ^ 

No.  263)  representing 
crouching  lions,  with  four  or  five  perforations  in  the 
margin  for  sewing  them  on  the  clothes  or  drapery. 
Though  rather  roughly  made,  the  body  of  the  animal  is 
true  to  nature,  and  particularly  the  head.  The  passion  of 
the  Mycenean  artist  for  spirals  is  shown  in  the  form  of  the 
lion's  tail.  As  Mr.  A.  S.  Murray,  of  the  British  Museum, 
justly  observed  to  me,  the  spiral  is  no  proof  whatever  of 
oriental  influence,  because  it  is  a  form  which  every  curling 
wire  would  naturally  suggest,  and  its  general  existence  and 
independent  use  is  attested  by  the  spiral  ornamentations  of 
the  ancient  Mexicans,  Peruvians,  and  Egyptians. 

I   further  found  on  the  three  bodies  of  the  third 


Vasengemalde.' 


1876.] 


GOLDEN  BROOCHES  WITH  STAGS. 


I79 


sepulchre  twelve  ornaments  of  gold,  each  representing 
two  stags  lying  down,  with  long  three-branched  horns, 
leaning  with  the  necks  against  each  other  and  turning 
the  head  in  opposite  directions,  but  so  that  the  horns  of 
both  touch  each  other  and  seem  intended  to  form  a 
sort  of  a  crown.  The  two  stags  repose  on  the  top  of  a 
date-palm  tree  with  three  fronds,  of  which  the  two  to  the 
right  and  left  extend  below  the  bodies  of  the  animals, 
whilst  the  third  stands  upright.  Two  of  these  ornaments, 
with  double  stags,  were  soldered  together,  and  in  the  hollow 
thus  formed  at  the  lower  end  was  stuck  a  thick  silver  pin, 
with  circular  horizontal  fiutings,  which  represented  the 
stem  of  the  palm-tree,  and  which  was  fastened  by  a  pin. 
The  hole  through  which  this  pin  was  stuck  is  seen  at  the 


Nos.  364,  265.    Gulden  Ornaments.    Sepulchre  1 1 1.    Actual  size. 


bottom  of  No.  264,  and  part  of  the  silver  pin  in  No.  265, 
where  we  also  recognise  the  horizontal  fiutings,  which  seem 
to  have  been  intended  to  imitate  the  rough  bark  of  the 
palm-tree.  Thus  we  see  before  us  a  beautiful  brooch, 
presenting  on  either  side  two  stags  lying  on  a  palm-tree. 
But,  the  brooch  being  rather  heavy,  the  silver  pin  was 
perforated,  as  we  see  at  the  lower  end  of  No.  265,  to  be 
fastened  with  a  thread  or  otherwise.  Two  of  these  orna- 
ments had  besides  two  perforations.    Reckoning  two  such 


i8o 


THE  THIRD  SEPULCHRE. 


[Chap.  VIE 


ornaments  as  one  brooch,  there  were  found  in  this  sepul- 
chre in  all  six  brooches  with  a  pair  of  stags  on  either  side. 

There  were  alsofound  two  golden 
ornaments  (see  No.  266),  repre- 
senting a  similar  date-tree  with 
three  larger  fronds,  on  which 
two  lion-cubs  sit  opposite  each 
other  and  are  holding  their 
muzzles  together ;  the  tails  of 
the  four  cubs  form  spirals,  just 
as  the  ornaments  with  the  double 
stags.  These  two  ornaments  with 
the  cubs  were  also  stuck  together, 
either  by  soldering  or  by  pins,  through  the  two  perfora- 
tions which  we  see  in  each  of  them  ;  and  in  the  hollow 
below  was  fixed  a  silver  brooch,  and  thus  this  ornament, 
like  the  former,  served  as  a  breast-pin  (iropTrrj). 

I  further  found  with  the  three  bodies  of  the  third  tomb 
two  golden    ornaments,  representing  two  women,  each 


No.  266.  Golden  Ornament. 
Sepulchre  III.    Actual  size. 


Nos.  267,  268.    Golden  Ornaments.    Women  with  Doves.    Sepulchre  III.    Actual  size. 


having  a  pigeon  on  her  head.  One  of  them  (No.  268) 
has  also  a  pigeon  attached  to  each  arm.  Both  women 
are  of  the  same  type  and  have  a  long  pointed  nose,  which 
protrudes  in  a  straight  line  from  the  forehead,  and  large 


Chap.  VII.]         GOLDEN'  WOMEN  WITH  PIGEONS. 


181 


eyes.  The  heads  of  both  are  crowned  with  a  diadem. 
Each  has  a  hollow  in  the  left  cheek,  which  is  alone  visible ; 
both  touch  their  breasts  with  the  hands,  and  this  must  be 
a  symbol  of  fertility  or  abundance.  I  call  attention  to  the 
resemblance  in  the  attitude  of  these  women  to  that  of  the 
numerous  terra-cotta  idols  of  Aphrodite  from  Cyprus,  as 
well  as  to  the  so-called  statue  of  Niobe  on  the  rock  of 
Sipylos,  which  also  touch  jheir  breasts  with  both  hands. 
The  four  pigeons  are  represented  with  spread  wings,  as  if  they 
were  flying.  The  first  woman  (No.  267)  has  four  perfora- 
tions and  her  bird  has  two,  by  which  this  ornament  was 
sewn  on  the  clothes  or  drapery.  On  the  other  hand,  the 
woman  with  the  three  pigeons  has  evidently  been  fixed  to 
something  else  with  two  small  gold 
pins,  the  broad  heads  of  which  we 
see,  the  one  between  the  knees  of  the 
woman,  the  other  on  her  belly. 

I  further  found  in  the  same  tomb 
golden  ornaments  like  No.  269,  but 
I  find  it  difficult  to  explain  whether 

I  .         .  *     ,  No.  369.    Gulden  Ornament 

the  artist  intended   to   represent   a       sepulchre  111.  AchoIkm 
horse,  a   hippocampus,  or    a  dog. 

Of  golden  ornaments  in  the  form  of  cuttle-fish,  or  sepias, 
I    found    not   less   than   twenty-seven   of  the   shape  of  1 


370,271.  Two  Golden  Cuttle  Fish.   Sepulchre  111    Actual  lise, 


those  represented  under  Nos.'  270  and  271.  All  of  them 
are  double,  that  is  to  say,  two  sepias  are  always  soldered 
together,  so  that  the  ornament  represents  a  sepia  on  either 


1 82  THE  THIRD  SEPULCHRE.  [Chap.  VII. 

side.  The  Mycenean  goldsmith,  always  eager  to  convert 
everything  into  spirals,  has  done  so  here  with  all  the  feet  of 
the  sepias,  every  one  of  which  forms  a  beautiful  spiral. 
Some  of  the  sepias,  like  No.  270,  have  in  addition  four 
perforations  for  fixing  them  with  thread.  How  these  orna- 
ments may  have  been  used  is  altogether  a  riddle  to  me. 


No.  272.    A  Flying  Griffin  of  Gold.    Sepulchre  III.    Actual  size. 


No.  272  represents  a  flying  griffin  of  gold.  Like  No.  261,  it 
has  the  body  of  a  lion,  the  head  and  wings  of  an  eagle, 
and  is  ornamented  with  spirals.  As  it  has  no  perforations, 
it  must  have  been  fastened  with  glue  on  the  drapery. 

Of  the  highest  interest  are  two  little  golden  figures,  one 
of  which  is  given  under  No.  273,  each  having  four  per- 
forations in  exactly  the  same  places ;  they 
appear,  therefore,  to  have  been  attached  to 
each  other,  so  that  the  same  figure  appeared 
on  either  side.  They  exactly  resemble 
each  other.  Regarding  the  type  of  the 
features  nothing  can  be  said  with  certainty, 
for  it  may  as  well  be  Hellenic  as  Asiatic. 
Nor  is  there  any  indication  whether  the 
figures  represent  men  or  women,  though 
their  rich  female  dress  leads  us  to  suppose 
the  latter  to  be  the  case.  Both  have  the 
hands  joined  on  the  breast  like  Aphrodite,  but  below 
them  we  see  an  object  in  the  form  of  a  disk,  which  seems 
to  be  suspended  from  the  neck.  On  each  side  of  the 
breast,  as  well  as  on  the  lower  part  of  the  gowns,  we  see 
a  number  of  straps,  which  probably  represent  ribbons  or 


No.  273.  Golden 
Ornament. 
Sepulchre  III. 
Actual  size. 


i876.] 


VARIOUS  GOLDEN  ORNAMENTS. 


gold  lace  ;  also  two  rows  of  twelve  small  circles  in  each, 
which  are  no  doubt  intended  to  represent  gold  buttons 
with  intaglio  work,  like  those  of  which  such  large  quantities 
were  found,  as  we  shall  see,  in  two  of  the  tombs. 

I  further  gathered  in  the  same  tomb  eight  golden 
ornaments  in  the  form  of  butterflies,  of  which  I  represent 
one  under  No.  275.    Some  of  them  have  two,  others  have 


Nos.  374-280.    Golden  Ornaments.    Sepulchre  III.    Actual  >i«. 


four,  perforations;  and,  as  all  are  exactly  of  the  same  size 
and  shape,  I  presume  that  these  also  have  been  fastened 
together  in  pairs  with  pins,  so  that  there  was  a  butterfly  on 
each  side.  This  supposition  seems  to  be  warranted  by  the 
reverse  side,  which  is  hollow.  I  think  the  same  must 
have  been  the  case  with  the  other  objects  here  engraved, 
of  which  duplicates  were  found,  but  not  with  No.  i~x, 
which  represents  two  eagles.  Very  curious  are  the  orna- 
ments represented  by  No.  279,  of  which  four  were  found  ; 


THE  THIRD  SEPULCHRE. 


[Chap.  VII. 


two  of  them  have  two  perforations  each,  the  other  two  have 
none.  All  of  them  represent  two  swans  standing  opposite  each 
other  with  the  heads  joined.  There  is  something  between 
the  feet  of  the  two  swans  which  has  the  shape  of  a  table, 
but  I  cannot  say  what  it  may  be.  There  were  found  seven 
golden  ornaments  like  No.  280,  representing  hippocampi ; 
all  have  the  head  turned  backward,  and  the  tail  is  curved ; 
all  have  perforations. 

The  golden  ornament  (No.  274)  has  also  perforations 
for  attachment  to  another  object ;  it  represents,  as  before 
mentioned,  two  eagles,  which  stand  opposite  each  other 
with  the  heads  turned  round.  There  were  found  in  the 
same  tomb  six  sphinxes,  like  No.  277.  They  are  winged 
lions,  with  beardless  human  heads,  covered  with  a  Phrygian 
cap,  from  which  a  long  crest  seems  to  stretch  out ;  but  it 
cannot  be  distinguished  here  whether  the  artist  intended  to 
represent  a  female  or  a  male  sphinx.  I  may  here  observe 
that,  according  to  Hesiod,  Apollodorus,  and  Euripides,  the 
Sphinx  is  a  daughter  of  Typhon  and  the  Echidna  or  the 
Chimasra,  or  of  Orthos  and  the  Chimaera,  and  that  it  has, 
at  all  events,  been  imported  from  Egypt  into  Greece.  But 
the  Egyptian  Sphinx  is  male,  being  the  symbol  of  a  king, 
while  the  sphinx  in  the  Theban  legend  of  CEdipus  is 
female.  The  golden  ornament  (No.  278),  of  which  four 
were  found,  seems  to  represent  a  tree  ;  all  of  these  have 
two  perforations.  Of  the  small  golden  jewels  of  this 
tomb,  I  may  mention  No.  276,  representing  two  birds, 
the  species  of  which  cannot  be  distinguished.  They  stand 
against  each  other,  their  heads  leaning  over  in  opposite 
directions,  the  two  being  joined  by  spirals. 

On  the  head  of  one  of  the  three  bodies  was  found  the 
splendid  crown  of  gold  (crre^ct,  No.  281),  which  is  one  of  the 
most  interesting  and  most  precious  objects  that  I  collected 
at  Mycenae.  It  is  2  ft.  1  in.  long,  and  profusely  covered 
with  shield-like  ornaments.  The  work  being  rcpousst,  all 
the  ornaments  protrude  and  appear  in  low  relief,  giving  to 


24 


i86 


THE  THIRD  SEPULCHRE. 


[Chap.  VII. 


No.  282.    Golden  Diadem  found  on  the  head  of 
another  body  in  the  Third  Sepulchre. 
Size  1  :  5,  about. 


and  so  I  found  it  on  the  head 
four  other  signs  resemble  the 
herald's  staff  of  Hermes. 


the  crown  an  indescrib- 
ably magnificent  aspect, 
which  is  still  further  aug- 
mented by  the  thirty-six 
large  leaves,  ornamented 
in  a  like  manner,  which 
are  attached  to  it.  It 
deserves  particular  atten- 
tion that  the  crown  was 
bound  round  the  head  so 
that  its  broadest  part  was 
lust  in  the  middle  of  the 
forehead,  and  of  course 
the  leaves  were  standing 
upright  around  the  upper 
part  of  the  head,  for  had 
it  been  otherwise  it  would 
have  shaded  the  eyes  and 
the  greater  part  of  the 
face.  Near  each  extremity 
can  be  seen  two  small 
holes,  through  which  the 
crown  was  fastened  by 
means  of  a  thin  golden 
wire.  I  call  particular 
attention  to  the  curious 
signs  between  the  shield- 
like ornaments  of  the 
lowest  row  ;  five  of  these 
signs  resemble  beautiful 
flowers,  the  heads  of  which 
give  an  additional  proof 
that  the  crown  was  worn 
with  the  leaves  upwards, 
of  one  of  the  bodies.  The 
Kf]pvK€Lov,  or  caduceus,  the 


1876.]  GOLDEN  DIADEM.  1 87 

Around  the  head  of  another  of  the  three  bodies  was 
found  the  magnificent  golden  diadem  (No.  282),  to  which 
was  still  attached  part  of  the  skull ;  it  is  finely  worked. 
It  has  a  border,  formed  by  parallel  lines  and  a  line  of 
protruding  points,  which  is  broadest  in  the  middle  and 
gradually  diminishes  towards  both  ends.  This  border  is 
ornamented  with  spiral  signs,  accompanied  by  small  lines 
of  deep  or  protruding  points.  The  space  between  the  two 
borders  is  filled  up  with  a  row  of  shield-like  ornaments, 
the  size  of  which  varies  according  to  the  breadth  of  the 
diadem,  containing  a  number  of  concentric  circles  around 
a  central  boss.  The  space  between  the  circles  is  filled  up, 
in  the  five  larger  ones,  with  a  circular  row  of  small  leaves 
or  of  protruding  points.  We  also  see  between  the  shield- 
like ornaments  all  along  the  border  two  rows  of  small 
bosses  encircled  by  protruding  points.  At  each  end  of  the 
diadem  is  a  perforation,  which,  must  have  served  to  fasten  it 
round  the  head  by  means  of  a  thin  wire  of  gold  or  copper. 
This  diadem  being  of  thick  gold  plate,  it  was  not  piped. 

I  further  found  with  the  three  bodies  five  diadems  of 
gold,  of  which  I  represent  two  under  Nos.  283  and  284. 
Two  of  them  (see  No.  283)  have  an  ornamentation  similar 
to  the  foregoing,  but  less  rich.  Both  are  piped  with  copper 
wire,  and  have  no  border  ;  and  both  consist  of  two  halves, 
which  seem  not  to  have  been  soldered  together,  but 
merely  joined  by  the  piping  wire.  As  neither  of  them 
has  perforations  in  the  extremities,  there  must  have 
been  attached  to  them  thin  wires  of  copper  or  gold, 
now  broken  off,  by  which  they  were  fastened  around  the 
head.  Both  these  diadems  have  suffered  much  from  the 
funeral  fire,  which  has  blackened  them  so  that  the  photo- 
graphs could  not  take  well.  The  diadem  (No.  284), 
though  not  piped,  has  no  border ;  it  is  also  ornamented 
with  shield-like  circles  representing  beautiful  flowers.  We 
see  an  ornamentation  in  the  form  of  a  star  at  each  end,  and 
small  shield-like  bosses  on  both  sides  between  the  circles. 
At  the  right  extremity  is  still  preserved  part  of  the  gold  wire 


i88 


THE  THIRD  SEPULCHRE. 


[Chap.  VII. 


with  which  the  diadem  was  fastened  round  the  head.  On 


Nos.  383,  284.    Diadems  of  Gold.    Sepulchre  III.    Size  2  :  9,  about. 


funeral  pyre  sticking  to  the  gold.  I  may  here  mention  that 
we  find  round  shields  with  an  ornamentation  of  crescents 


1876.]  APHRODITE  IDOLS  WITH  DIADEMS.  189 

and  stars  represented  on  Macedonian  coins  ;  but  these  can, 
of  course,  have  no  relation  whatever  to  the  Mycenean 
diadems,  which  may  be  twelve  centuries  older.  Although 
similar  diadems  with  an  ornamentation  of  rosettes  have 
never  been  found  before,  yet  there  can  be  no  doubt  that 
they  were  in  extensive  use  in  a  remote  antiquity,  for  the 
British  Museum  contains  six  idols  of  Aphrodite  from  Cyprus, 
two  of  terra-cotta  and  four  of  marble — all  of  which  have 
the  head  ornamented  with  similar  diadems.    I  see  further 


No.  285.    A  Cross  in  Gold  Plate.    Sepulchre  111.    Aclu.il  ni/c 


in  the  Assyrian  collection  of  the  same  museum  four 
figurettes  of  ivory  representing  Hercules,  whose  head  is 
likewise  ornamented  with  such  diadems. 

There  are  two  other  diadems  with  a  still  simpler  shield- 
like ornamentation,  and  having  in  the  middle  two  vertical 
rows  of  spirals.  Both  these  diadems  consist  of  halves, 
which  were  seeminglv  joined  only  by  the  copper  wire 
with  which  they  are  piped.  The  thin  wires  at  the  ex- 
tremities are  here  also  broken- off. 


190  THE  THIRD  SEPULCHRE.  [Chap.  VII. 

I  found  further  with  the  three  bodies  of  the  third  tomb 
six  crosses  formed  of  double  golden  leaves,  of  which  I 
give  engravings  of  four.    The  richest  ornamentation  is  on 


those  represented  by  No.  285  ;  the  leaves  resemble  laurel 
leaves,  ornamented  with  beautiful  flowers  in  repousse  work ; 
and  there  is  an  ornamentation  of  spirals  at  both  ends  of 


1876.]  GOLDEN  CROSSES.  191 

each  leaf.  In  the  centre  of  each  of  these  crosses  is  fixed 
a  cross  of  small  unornamented  gold-plate.  The  cross 
(No.  286)  shows  a  similar  pattern,  and  I  suppose  it  has 
been  fixed  in  the  centre  of  the  star-like  golden  ornament 
(No.  288) ;  but,  not  being  quite  certain  in  this  respect,  I 


give  separate  engravings  of  both.  No.  287  represents  a 
small  golden  ornament  with  three  flowers.  Very  curious 
is  the  small  golden  cross  (No.  289),  whose  leaves  show  a 
magnificent  ornamentation  of  circles  and  spirals,  and  in 


192. 


THE  THIRD  SEPULCHRE. 


[Chap.  VII. 


the  centre  of  which  is  attached  another  cross  of  small 
richly-ornamented  gold  leaves.  The  large  gold  cross  (No. 
290)  shows  a  shield-like  ornamentation,  and  also  at  the 
end  of  each  leaf  three  small  circles  containing  two  inner 
ones. 

In  several  places  we  see  in  the  leaves  of  this  latter  cross 
very  small    holes,  which  seem    to  prove    that  another 


No.  291.    A  Cross  of  Gold.    Sepulchre  III.    Size  4  :  7,  about. 


ornament  was  attached  in  the  centre,  probably  a  cross,  as 
we  see  in  No.  285,  or  a  star,  such  as  No.  288.  I  also 
found  in  this  tomb  the  two  large  and  beautiful  golden 
stars,  of  which  I  represent  one  (No.  291).  They  consist 
of  two  differently-shaped  crosses,  with  a  magnificent  or- 
namentation in  repousse  work ;  both  crosses  are  fastened 
together  with  a  golden  pin  with  a  large  round  flat  head, 


1876.]  GIGANTIC  GOLD  BROOCH.  1 93 

which  is  still  preserved  on  the  one  shown  in  the  engraving. 
In  the  centre  of  the  other  star  there  is  only  the  impres- 
sion which  the  pinhead,  now  lost,  has  made  on  the  gold 
plate.  It  is  perfectly  impossible  for  me  to  say  how  these 
crosses  served  as  ornaments  of  the  dead,  for  I  found  none 
of  them  in  situ. 

On  one  of  the  bodies  I  found  a  gold  brooch  (nopirr)), 
with  a  very  thick  silver  pin,  8  in.  long  (see  No.  292), 


No.  292.    A  Gulden  Brooch  (iropmj).    Sepulchre  III.    Actual  size. 

which,  having  seemingly  been  in  contact  with  saline 
matter,  has  been  turned  into  chloride  of  silver,  and  has, 
therefore,  broken  in  two.  Thus  only  the  upper  part  of 
the  pin  is  seen  in  the  engraving.  In  the  brooch  we 
see  a  woman  with  extended  arms,  turning  her  face  to  the 
left  of  the  spectator;  her  features  are  decidedly  Greek. 
She  has  a  long  nose,  which  protrudes  straight  from  the 


25 


194  THE  THIRD  SEPULCHRE.  [Chap.  VII. 

forehead,  and  large  eyes ;  her  hair  only  reaches  down  to 
the  neck,  which  is  ornamented  with  a  necklace  ;  her  large 
breasts  are  well  shown  On  her  head  we  see  a  spiral 
ornamentation,  from  the  middle  of  which  rises  a  beautiful 
palm-tree,  and  from  this  there  hang  down  to  the  right  and 
left  long  tresses  with  tassels  in  the  shape  of  flowers. 


No.  293.    Golden  Ornament  from  the  Third  Sepulchre.    Size  five-sixths. 

I  also  found  in  this  tomb  the  two  very  curious  golden 
ornaments  (see  No.  2,93),  which  are  too  large  and  heavy 
to  have  been  worn  as  pendants  of  earrings 
and  have  probably  been  used  as  breast  or- 
naments. Each  consists  of  two  pieces  of 
repoussi  work,  which  are  soldered  together, 
and  thus  these  objects  present  the  same 
ornamentation  on  either  side. 

There  was  also  found  a  small  golden 
cross,  represented  under  No.  294,  having 
an  ornamentation  of  spirals  on  either  side.  It  deserves 
particular  mention  that  the  last-named  ornaments  (Nos. 
291-294),  as  well  as  some  of  the  smaller  ornaments  of 


No.  294. 
A  Gulden  Cross. 
Sepulchre  III. 
Actual  size. 


1876. 1  GOLDEN  HAIR-HOLDERS.  195 

this  sepulchre,*  though  of  gold,  have  a  reddish  bronze- 
like  colour,  so  that,  if  I  had  found  them  alone,  I  should 
decidedly  not  have  claimed  for  them  a  very  remote 
antiquity  ;  but  the  conditions  under  which  they  lay  in 
the  sepulchre  make  it  impossible  to  suppose  that  the 
objects  found  there  were  of  different  ages. 

There  were  also  found  on  each  of  the  three  bodies  two 
golden  ornaments  (six  in  all)  almost  in  the  form  of  ear- 
rings, of  which  two  are  represented  in  the  engravings  Nos. 
295  and  296.  But  as  the  two  ends  of  each  of  these  objects 
are  in  the  form  of  spirals  turned  round  four  or  five  times, 
they  can,  of  course,  not  have  been  used  for  the  ears ;  besides 
they  would  be  by  far  too  heavy  for  that  use,  because  they 
are  of  solid  gold.  The  only  use  which,  in  my  opinion,  can 
have  been  made  of  them  is  to  hold  together  the  locks,  and 
I  think  they  perfectly  explain  the  passage  in  Homer  :f — 

"  Those  locks,  that  with  the  Graces'  hair  might  vie. 
Those  tresses  bright,  with  gold  and  silver  bound. 
Were  dabbled  all  with  blood." 

Lord  Dkrhy. 

I  also  collected  on  the  three  bodies  eleven  verv  curious 
golden  ornaments,  of  which  I  give  three  engravings  (Nos. 
297,  298,  and  299).  All  of  them  have  in  the  middle  a 
narrow  tube,  by  which  they  appear  to  have  been  strung  on 
a  cord,  for  they  can,  in  my  opinion,  only  have  been  used 
for  necklaces.  They  were  made  in  the  following  way  :  to 
both  ends  of  a  small  tube,  which,  as  we  see  in  the  engra- 
vings, is  ornamented  with  circular  incisions,  was  soldered  a 
thin  golden  wire,  which  was  on  either  side  turned  eleven 
times  round,  and  these  spirals  were  soldered  together,  the 
outside  turn  of  each  also  being  soldered  to  the  tube.  Ot 

■  Like  Nos.  262,  264,  265,  266,  272,  273,  274,  275,  276,  277,  279. 

28°,  3°3.  3°5»  3o6»  an(1  3l6- 
t  Iliad,  XVII.  51  and  52  :— 

e.YuUT  i  Ot  htVOVTO  KO^iai  xaPtTftT(Ttl'  dfAOtat, 


196  THE  THIRD  SEPULCHRE.  [Chap.  VII. 

the  same  pattern  were  found  six  bracelets  like  No.  300, 
each  of  which  consists  of  twelve  spirals  made  of  the  same 
fine  gold  wire ;  they  were  fastened  round  the  arm  by  the 


Nos.  295-300.    Golden  Hair-holders,  Bracelets,  and  Ornaments  of  Necklaces.    Size  5  :  6,  about. 


small  golden  staff  at  the  right,  and  by  the  spiral  at  the  left 
extremity,  which  latter  served  as  a  clasp. 

There  were  further  found  two  pairs  of  golden  scales, 


i876.] 


GOLDEN  BALANCES. 


I97 


one  pair,  the  other  beam  being  too  much  compressed  and 
out  of  shape.    Both  beams  consist  of  tubes  of  thin  gold- 


i98 


THE  THIRD  SEPULCHRE. 


[Chap.  VII. 


plate,  througli  which  was  undoubtedly  stuck  a  wooden  stick 
to  give  them  more  solidity  ;  debris  of  charred  wood  were  even 
found  in  some  pieces  of  the  golden  tubes.  The  beams 
were  attached  to  the  scales  by  long  and  very  thin  straps  of 
gold.  Two  of  the  scales  are  ornamented  with  flowers,  the 
others  with  beautifully-represented  butterflies.  Of  course 
these  scales  can  never  have  been  used ;  they  were  evi- 
dently made  expressly  to  accompany  the  bodies  of  the 
three  princesses  into  the  grave,  and  they  have,  therefore,  un- 
doubtedly a  symbolic  signification.  I  may  here  call  attention 
to  the  scales  in  the  wall-paintings  of  the  Egyptian  sepulchres, 
in  which  are  weighed  the  good  and  bad  deeds  of  the 
deceased.  At  all  events  these  scales  vividly  recal  to  our 
remembrance  the  beautiful  passage  of  Homer,*  where  Jove 
takes  golden  scales  and  weighs  the  "  lots  of  doom "  of 
Hector  and  Achilles. 

"  But  when  the  fourth  time  in  their  rapid  course 
The  founts  were  reached,  the  Eternal  father  hung 
His  golden  scales  aloft,  and  placed  in  each 
The  lots  of  doom,  for  great  Achilles  one, 
For  Hector  one,  and  held  them  by  the  midst  : 
Down  sank  the  scale,  weighted  with  Hector's  death, 
Down  to  the  shades,  and  Phoebus  left  his  side." 

Lord  Derby. 

There  were  further  found  with  the  three  bodies  the 
golden  ornaments  here  represented.  The  golden  plate 
(No.  303)  must  have  been  glued  on  something  else,  be- 
cause otherwise  its  use  is  inexplicable.  It  has  a  beautiful 
ornamentation  of  rcpousst  work,  such  as  we  have  not  seen 
before  in  Mycenae.  The  child's  mask  (No.  304)  consists 
of  verv  thin   gold   plate ;    the  places   for   the  eyes  are 


;:  //.  XXI 1.  209-213: — 

ClAA  ,  UT€  Si)  TO  TCTapTOV  €TTl  KpOXIVOVS  a&iKOVTO. 

Kat  ToVe  Sri  xpuo-6ia  irarrip  4rna.iv*  TaAacro  • 

iv  8'  671061  Svo  KTipt  ravriAtyios  Qavaroio, 

riju  fiiu  'Ax<AA7jus,  r^v  5"'E/cTopos  imroSafnoio  • 

t'AKf  Se  fietraa  Aa&wV  {>tire  5""E/<Topos  aXaifiov  i)fiap, 

ifXeTo  S'  6is  'A'/Sao  '  Se'  6  4>o?/3os  'Air6\Au<v. 


1876.J  CHILD'S  MASK  AND  GOLD  PLATES.  199 

cut  out,  and  even  in  the  present  crumpled  condition  of 
the  mask  the  nose  is  slightly  protruding.  It  appears, 
therefore,  very  probable  that,  together  with  the  bodies  of 
the  three  women,  a  child  was  burnt  and  buried  in  this 
tomb,  and  this  would  perfectly  agree  with  the  tradition  cited 
by  Pausanias.* 

1  also  found  thirteen  splendidly-ornamented  objects  of 
gold  plate,  of  which  one  is  represented  under  No.  305  ; 


w  304 


30s  300 

Nos.  303-306.    Golden  Ornament-.    Sepulchre  III.  Half-size. 


their  style  of  ornamentation  has  never  been  seen  by  me 
here  before.  At  the  upper  extremity  we  see  a  perforation, 
which  makes  it  probable  that  these  objects  have  served  as 
pendants  of  earrings  The  gold  plate  (No.  306)  must  also 
have  been  cemented  on  some  other  object,  for  it  shows  no 


*  II.  16,  §  6.    Sec  the  passage  fully  quoted  in  Chapter  III.  p.  59. 


200 


THE  THIRD  SEPULCHRE.  [Chap.  VII. 


perforations.  It  represents  in  defective  repousst  work  two 
men,  of  whom  the  one,  who  is  winged  and  has  horse's-feet 
and  appears  to  play  the  flute,  stands  with  his  right  foot  on 
the  head  of  the  other,  whose  arms  are  extended  and  whose 
feet  are  wide  apart.  Both  men  have  two  horns  on  the 
head,  and  those  of  the  lower  figure  are  particularly  conspi- 
cuous. To  the  right  of  the  two  men,  and  thus  to  the  left 
of  the  spectator,  is  a  very  strange  ornament,  which  at  first 
sight  appears  to  consist  of  written  characters,  but,  on  closer 
examination,  we  find  that  it  is  mere  ornamentation. 

There  was  further  found  here  the  perforated  ball  of 
beautifully-polished  rock  crystal   (No.   307),  which  has 


teas 


Nos.  307,  308.    Objects  of  Rock  Crystal.    Sepulchre  III.    Actual  size. 

evidently  formed  part  of  the  handle  of  a  sceptre  or  some 
weapon,  for  we  see  in  the  perforation  a  long  piece  of  metal 
which  appears  to  be  gold,  but  which  is  probably  only  gold- 
plated  bronze  or  silver. 

The  object,  No.  308,  is  also  of  well-polished  rock 
crystal ;  it  has  a  large  mouth,  and  a  perforation  on  the 
opposite  side ;  the  interior  has  a  lively  ornamentation 
painted  in  red  and  white.  The  use  of  this  object  is  alto- 
gether a  riddle  to  me. 

There  were  also  found  two  objects  of  bronze,  of  which 
the  one  appears  to  be  a  fragment  and  the  other  the  handle 
of  some  weapon. 


1876.] 


CURIOUS  SCEPTRES. 


20  i 


I  also  picked  up  there  the  two  objects,  Nos.  309  and 
310,  which  appear  to  be  sceptres.  The  silver  staff  of 
each  has  been  plated  with  gold, 
as  we  see  on  that  part  of  it 
which  sticks  in  the  beautifully- 
turned  knobs  of  rock  crystal. 
The  crystal  ball  of  No.  309  is 
ornamented  with  small  vertical 
furrows  and  quite  perforated, 
and  there  are  evident  signs  that 
another  object,  probably  of  gold, 
has  been  attached  to  its  lower 
end ;  and  such  a  piece  of  gold 
was  found  lying  separately  and 
is  added  in  the  engraving  (a), 
the  more  so  as  its  upper  end 
had  evidently  been  broken  off; 
it  is  ornamented  on  both  sides 
with  repoitsst  work  representing 
lions. 

I  call  the  reader's  attention 
to  the  size  of  these  presumed 
sceptres,  which  is  here  only 
about  one-third  of  the  actual 
size.  I  beg  further  to  observe 
that  the  enormous  gold  plated 
silver  rods  were  doubtless  stuck 
in  wooden  staves  covered  with  gold  plate.  For  the 
abundance  here  of  such  staves  with  gold  covers  we  can 
have  no  better  testimony  than  the  numerous  tubes  of 
gold  plate  found  in  these  tombs,  many  of  them  still  con- 
taining charred  remnants  of  the  wood  which  they  once 
covered;  a  few  even  contained  remnants  of  the  wood  pretty 
well  preserved. 

Further  I  found  fifteen  perforated  beads  of  brown 
agate,  like  No.  311,  which  evidently  belong  to  a  necklace; 


Nw.  309,  310. 
Sceptres  of  silver  plated  with  gold,  with 
handles  of  rock-crystal. 
Sepulchre  III.    Sire  t  :  3,  about, 
'i.  A  ball  of  yold  found  separately,  but 
belonging  to  the  handle. 


26 


202 


THE  THIRD  SEPULCHRE.  [Chap.  VII. 


also  a  number  of  beads  like  No.  312:  further  the  magni- 
ficent lentoid  gem  of  sardonyx  (No.  313),  on  which  is 
represented  in  intaglio  a  woman  in  a  costly  dress,  open  on 
the  breast  and  ornamented  with  an  upper  and  a  lower 
circle  of  large  points,  which  are,  no  doubt,  intended  to 
represent  gold  buttons.  Her  head  is  ornamented  with  a 
large  crown ;  her  features  are  unfortunately  too  indistinct 
for  us  to  determine  their  type ;  on  her  robe  between  her 
knees  we  see  a  flower,  head  downwards.  To  her  left  is 
sitting  a  man  apparently  in  full  armour,  and  wearing  on 
his  head  a  helmet  with  a  long  crest.  Very  characteristic 
is  his  long  aquiline  nose,  which  he  seems  to  touch  with  his 


3"  3'3  3J4 


Nos.  311-315.    Beads  of  Agate  and  lentoid  gems  of  Sardonyx  and  Amethyst. 
Sepulchre  III.    Actual  size. 


uplifted  left  hand.  The  feet  of  both  persons  are  well 
indicated,  but  the  artist  appears  to  have  forgotten  to  give 
the  woman  arms.  No.  314  is  a  whorl-like  ornament  of 
black  agate,  with  a  spiral  ornamentation  on  its  lower  side  ; 
it  has  no  perforation. 

Very  curious  is  the  lentoid  gem  of  amethyst,  No.  315, 
which  is  of  a  transparent  violet-blue  colour,  with  an 
intaglio,  representing  an  animal  turning  round  its  head  to 
look  at  its  calf,  which  is  sucking  the  milk  from  its 
udders.  The  body  and  legs  of  the  animal,  and  even  its 
head  and  horns,  are  decidedly  those  of  a  stag ;  but  I 
may  remind  the  reader  that  the  most  ancient  didrachms 
of  Corcyra  represent  in  a  similar  style  a  cow  turning  her 
head  and  looking  at  her  calf,  which  sucks  the  milk  from 
her  udders. 


i876.] 


ORNAMENTED  GOLDEN  WHEELS. 


203 


I  also  found  there  six  golden  ornaments  in  the  form 
of  wheels,  of  one  of  which  I  give  the  engraving  (No.  316). 
Like  the  wheels  of 
bronze   which  we 
have  passed  in  re- 
view,   these  six 


A  Golden  Wheel.    Sepulchre  III.    Actual  size. 


wheels  have  only 
four  spokes,  form- 
ing a  cross  around 
the  closed  axle, 
which  is  merely 
indicated  ;  but  the 
spokes  are  here 
curved,  so  as  to 
form  four  semicir- 
cles. All  of  them 
are  ornamented  with 
horizontal  incisions;  the  felloes  are  very  broad,  and  have 
a  spiral  ornament  all  round. 

I  also  found  in  this  sepulchre  a  lady's  comb  of  gold, 
with  teeth  of  bone  ;  but  the  latter  are  so  much  damaged 
that  I  cannot  give  an  engraving  of  them  ;  further,  a  large 
silver  seal-ring,  which,  having  been  in  contact  with  saline 
matter,  has  become  chloride  of  silver,  so  that  the  engraving 
on  it  has  disappeared.  Also,  twelve  tubes  of  gold  plate, 
which  had  evidently  once  been  filled  with  wood  to  give  them 
solidity ;  in  some  of  the  tubes  there  were  still  remains  of 
charred  wood.  The  use  of  these  tubes  is  difficult  to  explain  ; 
they  may  have  belonged  either  to  sceptres  or  to  distaffs. 
Further,  a  large  quantity  of  small  or  larger  gold  beads 
of  necklaces,  and  an  enormous  quantity  of  amber  beads, 
likewise  from  necklaces.  These  beads  have  grown  dark- 
brown,  probably  owing  to  their  great  antiquity,  so  that  we 
at  first  mistook  them  for  resin,  but  the  analysis  of  Professor 
Landerer  has  shown  that  they  consist  of  the  purest  amber. 
It  will,  of  course,  for  ever  remain  a  secret  to  us  whether 
this  amber  is  derived  from  the  coast  of  the  Baltic  or  from 


204  THE  THIRD  SEPULCHRE.  [Chap.  VII. 

Italy,  where  it  is  found  in  several  places,  but  particularly  on 
the  east  coast  of  Sicily  ;  but  it  is  highly  probable  that  it 
was  brought  to  Greece  by  the  Phoenicians,  its  name  in  Greek 
being  electrum  (-r/Xe/a-poi^and  elek  signifying  resin  in  Arabic, 
and  probably  also  in  Phoenician.  Amber  was  well  known 
to  Homer,  who  mentions  it  three  times  in  the  Odyssey,  as 
fitted,  in  lieu  of  precious  stones,  in  gold  ornaments.* 

Amongst  other  objects  found  with  the  three  bodies  of 
the  third  tomb,  were  a  square  leaf  ornament,  two  golden 
breast-pins,  a  golden  flower  on  a  silver  stalk,  many  very 
small  golden  ornaments,  a  large  number  of  beads  of  a  trans- 
parent red  stone  from  a  necklace,  a  gold-plated  brooch  of 
bronze ;  seven  ornaments  of  gold  representing  lions,  of 
which,  however,  only  two  are  with  heads ;  also,  a  golden 
ornament  representing  an  ox  attacked  by  two  lions.  I 
collected  there  a  large  quantity  of  small  pieces  of  very  thin 
beaten  gold,  with  which  the  whole  tomb,  below  and  above 
the  bodies,  was  strewn. 

With  the  three  bodies  of  the  third  sepulchre  were 
also  found  the  gold  gohlet  (No.  317)  and  the  gold  box 
(No.  318).  The  goblet  has  only  one  handle,  and  its  out- 
side is  divided,  by  a  band  in  relief  of  three  stripes,  into  an 
upper  and  a  lower  compartment,  and  both  are  ornamented 
with  repousse  work  of  fish,  which  are  very  faithful  to 


*  Odyss.  XV.  460  :— 

Xpvaeov  '6pnov  «x""'j  /xfra  5'.  r)KtKTpoicnv  eepro. 
"  Bringing  a  golden  necklace  set  with  amber." 
And  XVIII.  296  :— 

'dpfiov  5'  ¥.vpvfiax<?  iroAuSoi'SoAoi'  auTtV  eveiKfv 
Xpvaeov,  f)A€/cTpoi<ne  (ipfifvov,  r\e\iov  Sis. 
"  He  brought  immediately  to  Eurymachus  an  artistic  golden  necklace,  set  with 
amber  like  the  sun." 

In  both  cases  the  plural  agrees  exactly  with  the  sense  of  amber- 
beads  set  in  a  gold  mounting. 

The  third  passage,  Odyss.  IV.  73 — 

Xpv&ov  r  i]K(KTpov  re  xa'i  apyvpov  7)5'  4\4(pavros — 

occurs  in  the  description  of  the  palace  of  Menelaus  ;  and  here  the  yellow 
gold  and  amber  seem  placed  in  poetic  parallelism  with  the  white  silver 
and  ivory. 


1876.]  GOLD  GOJ3LET  AND  BOX  WITH  LIU.  205 

nature.  Very  curious  is  the  gold  box  (No.  318),  with 
a  well-fitting  lid,  which  was  fastened  on  it  with  two  gold 
wires,  by  means  of  four  perforations,  one  wire  being  on 
either  side  of  the  lid,  and  one  on  either  side  of  the  rim 
of  the  box.    A  similar  contrivance  is  found  in  the  box 


Nos.  317,  318.    A  Goblet  and  a  Hox  of  '  -   ■(     Sepulchre  HI.    Size  3  :  8,  about 


which  Arete,  wife  of  King  Alcinoiis,  fills  with  presents  for 
Ulysses,  for  she  recommends  to  him  : — 

"  Look  now  thyself  to  the  lid  and  tie  quickly  a  knot  on  it,  lest  any 
one  should  rob  thee  on  the  way,  when  thou  reposest  again  in  sweet 
slumber,  going  in  the  black  ship."* 

Homer  says  in  the  verses  immediately  following : — 

"  But  as  soon  as  the  much-enduring,  divine  Ulysses  heard  this,  he 
forthwith  fitted  on  the  lid,  and  quickly  put  upon  it  a  manifold  knot, 
which  venerable  Circe  had  once  prudently  taught  him."t 


Odyss.  VIII.  443-445  •— 

Airii  vvv  lit  nuifia,  8ovi  5'  (irl  StVfthy  fr/Ao»\ 
^T)Tit  tui  Kat)  ASoy  $j)AT)(rfToi,  favor1  tiv  aJnt 
fv^ijdda  yAuKvv  vwvuv,  Iwv  iv  vi)t  ptKalvT). 

f  lb.  446-448  : — 

AuTap  int\  Toy  &xov<rt  jroAi'iTAq*  Siui  'OSvcat if, 
aurfx'  {nT)prvt  nuifia,  dows  8'  ^ir!  htttfihv  li)A*v 
TromiKov,  I'm  no-ri  fiiv  BtSat  <ppta\  ir&Tvia  K.,-, 

In  Od.  II.  354,  Telemachus, preparing  for  his  voyage  to  Sparta,  bids 
his  nurse  Euryclea  to  fill  twelve  amphora;  with  wine  and  fit  them  all 
with  lids,  but  these  would  need  to  be  very  close-fitting  for  liquids  (cf. 
p.  256) : 

AwJfxa  0"  iy.irKr\aov,  Kai  iruuaaiv  dprrov  iirairai. 


206  THE  THIRD  SEPULCHRE.  [Chap.  VII. 

These  passages  can  leave  no  doubt  that  chests  and 
boxes  with  a  similar  contrivance  were  in  general  use  in  the 
time  of  Homer.  They  were  also  in  general  use  at  Troy, 
for  I  collected  there  hundreds  of  terra-cotta  vases,  and 
also  a  box,  which  shows  the  same  principle.*  Similar 
terra-cotta  vases  are  also  to  be  seen  in  the  small  collection 
of  prehistoric  pottery  in  the  French  school  at  Athens. 
They  were  found  in  a  prehistoric  city  on  the  island  of 
Thera,  below  a  layer  of  pumice-stone  and  volcanic  ashes, 
60  ft.  deep,  thrown  out  by  that  great  central  volcano, 
which,  in  the  opinion  of  competent  geologists,  must  have 
sunk  into  the  sea  and  disappeared  about  1 700-1 800  b.c 

Chests  and  boxes 
fashioned  in  the  same 
way,  namely,  with  per- 
forations in  the  rim 
and  in  the  lid  through 
which  they  were  fas- 
tened by  means  of 
a  string,  must  have 
been  in  general  use  in 
Mycenae,  because  all 
the  gold  vessels  with 
lids  found  here  show 
exactly  the  same  con- 
trivance. The  box 
before  us  has  no  orna- 
mentation. 

The  beautiful  glo- 
bular gold  vase  (No. 
319)  has  a  handle  on 
each  side  and  one  on  the  lid,  in  which  latter  can  be  seen  the 
golden  wire  by  which  it  was  attached  to  the  vase  through 


*  See  my  '  Troy  and  its  Remains,'  p.  286,  No.  200,  p.  310,  Nos.  222 
and  223,  and  Plate  XVII.  Nos.  243  and  244. 


No.  319. 

Golden  Vase,  with  lid  attached  by  a  golden  wire. 
Sepulchre  III.    Size  7  :  10. 


1876.]  GOLD  VESSELS  WITH  LIDS.  207 

the  perforation  in  the  rim.  The  only  ornaments  of  this 
vase  are  the  two  rope-like  bands  in  relief,  with  which  its 
upper  part  is  encircled.  I  also  found  with  the  three 
bodies  of  the  third  sepulchre  the  three  gold  vessels  here 
engraved,  all  of  which  have  holes  in  the  rim  and  in  the 
lid,  for  tying  them  together  with  a  gold  wire.  No.  320 
has  a  small  handle  on  either  side,  and  a  large  one  on  the 
lid ;  it  is  decorated  with  curved  lines  in  relief.  The  hand- 
some box  (No.  321)  has  only  a  small  handle  on  the  lid, 
and  no  ornamentation.  The  beautiful  vase  (No.  322)  has 
a  handle  on  each  side,  and  a  very  large  one  on  the  lid.  It 
has  no  ornamentation.    There  can  be  seen  protruding 


Nos.  320,  321,  322.    Three  Golden  Vessels.    Sepulchre  III.    Size  2  :  3,  about. 

from  it  the  long  golden  wire,  by  which  the  lid  was  bound 
to  the  rim  of  the  vessel.  All  these  and  the  former  golden 
vases  and  boxes  are  of  reponssd  work.  I  likewise  found 
in  this  tomb  a  plain  silver  vase  with  one  handle. 

There  were  found  on  the  eastern  side  of  this  sepulchre 
four  boxes  of  copper-plate  (see  No.  323)  all  filled  with 
wood,  which  is  pretty  well  preserved,  only  the  upper  part 
of  it  being  partly  charred  by  the  funeral  fire.  Each  of 
these  boxes  is  10  in.  long,  5  in.  high,  and  4^  in.  wide. 
The  side  plates  of  the  boxes  are  soldered  together,  and 
nowhere  are  nails  visible  except  in  the  rim  of  the  upper 
side,  which  is  open,  where  ~we  see  twenty  long  copper  nails 


ao8  THE  THIRD  SEPULCHRE.  [Chap.  VII. 

beaten  in  from  the  outside  and  projecting  far  on  the 
inside ;  and  the  question  naturally  arises  why  they  are 
there.  I  cannot  explain  their  presence  in  any  other  way 
than  by  supposing  that  there  has  been  on  this  side  a 
thick  wooden  plate,  which  was  fastened  by  the  twenty  nails, 
and  which  has  been  burned  in  the  funeral  fire.  I  con- 
jecture that  these  copper  cases,  filled  with  wood,  served 
probably  as  head-pillows  for  the  dead,  and  perhaps  also  for 
the  living,  because  they  are,  at  all  events,  not  harder,  and 


No.  323.    A  Box  of  Copper  Plate,  rilled  with  wood.    Sepulchre  III.    Size  3  :  10,  about. 


even  a  little  softer,  than  the  pillows  of  alabaster  or  marble 
found  in  the  Egyptian  tombs,  of  which  several  are  in  the 
British  Museum.  I  at  first  supposed  that  the  wood  in  the 
boxes  might  be  sandal-wood,  which  might  have  served 
to  perfume  the  sepulchre  whilst  the  funeral  pile  was  burning, 
but  I  have  given  up  this  idea,  considering  that  there  would 
have  been  no  use  in  preserving  the  odoriferous  wood  in 
the  boxes  and  shutting  it  up  in  them  with  long  nails ; 
besides  that,  for  such  a  purpose  more  of  it  would  have 
burned.  But  again,  it  may  be  that  the  sandal-wood  has 
been  imported  from  India  in  these  small  boxes.    In  the 


1876.J  HAND-MADE  VASE  OF  TERRA-COTTA.  209 

present  deteriorated  state  of  the  wood  it  is  utterly  im- 
possible to  recognise  the  species  of  tree  that  it  belongs  to. 


No.  324.    Vessel  of  Tcrra-cotta.    Sepulchre  III.    Size  7  :  10. 

All  these  boxes  were  lying  near  the  heads  of  the  dead,  but 
none  under  any  of  them. 

There  were  also  found 
with  the  three  bodies  of 
the  third  sepulchre  the 
small  hand-made  vessel  of 
terra -cotta  (No.  324), 
which  shows,  on  a  light 
yellow  dead  colour,  the 
following  ornamentation  of 
a  dark  red  colour :  three 
circular  bands  and  a  spiral 
line  interlacing  eight  circles, 
each  of  which  contains  a 
palm-leaf ;  every  two  circles 
are  further  intersected  by 
two  large  round  spots. 

No.  325  is  of  alabaster, 
but  looks  as  if  it  were  of 

shell  ;  it  represents  two  hands  joined  together  in  juxta- 
position and  forming  a  hollow ;  all  the   fingers   are  dis- 


No.  An  object  o!  Alabaster.    Sepulchre  III. 

Size  7  :  10. 


27 


2IO 


THE  THIRD  SEPULCHRE. 


[Ch.  VII.  1876 


tinctly  visible.  The  use  of  this  object  is  difficult  to 
explain,  it  being  too  heavy  to  have  served  as  a  spoon  or 
trowel. 

In  the  same  tomb  I  found  a  second  piece  of  splendidly 
polished  rock-crystal ;  its  form  is  more  than  a  hemisphere  ; 
it  has  a  perforation  in  the  middle  of  the  bottom,  and 
another  on  each  side.  Its  interior  has  paintings  of  a 
lively  red  colour.  Its  use  is  altogether  inexplicable  to  me  ; 
were  it  not  for  the  paintings  I  should  believe  it  to  be  the 
handle  of  a  sceptre ;  but  as  it  is,  it  can  never  have  served 
as  such. 

There  were  found  in  the  same  sepulchre  an  entire  but 
quite  plain  silver  vase,  with  one  handle  ;  a  broken  silver 
vessel  with  a  spiral  ornamentation,  and  a  broken  plain  silver 
goblet ;  also  a  silver  vase  ornamented  with  a  horizontal  row 
of  twelve  golden  stars  of  repousse  work,  but  unfortunately 
so  much  broken  that  it  cannot  be  photographed.  I  may 
further  mention  a  large  bronze  knife  with  a  wooden  handle. 

I  also  found  in  this  third  tomb  the  copper-plated 
mouthpiece  of  a  large  vase,  which  consists,  according  to 
Professor  Landerer,  of  a  composition  of  silver  and  lead  -, 
the  mouthpiece  has  probably  only  been  plated  with  copper 
in  order  to  plate  this  latter  again  with  gold.  Further,  an 
alabaster  cup,  a  fragmentary  bronze  vase,  two  very  large 
copper  vases  with  two  handles,  a  large  copper  caldron 
(\ej817s),  with  two  handles,  and  two  others  with  three 
handles.  All  these  objects  are  similar  to  those  found  in  the 
fourth  tomb,  of  which  the  engravings  will  be  given  in 
the  next  chapter. 

•  There  were  also  found  here  a  large  mass  of  fragments 
of  hand-made  or  very  ancient  wheel-made  terra-cotta  vases  ; 
and  lastly,  a  long  well-polished  stone  of  nearly  oval  form, 
which,  in  the  opinion  of  Mr.  Eustratiades,  may  have  served 
as  a  weight  to  draw  to  a  door. 


Nu.  326.    Golden  Mask  in  tlic  form  of  .1  Lion's  Mead     Sepulchre  IV.    Size  fa  about 


CHAPTER  VIII 

Thk  Fourth  Tomb  in  the  Acropolis  of  Mycenae. 

Further  search  within  the  Agora,  without  the  guide  of  tombstones  — 
Discovery  of  an  altar  of  Cyclopean  masonry,  over  the  centre  of  the 
great  Fourth  Tomb,  containing  the  bodies  of  five  men,  burnt  where 
they  lay,  laden  with  jewels,  and  covered  with  a  layer  of  white  clay — 
Objects  found  —  Copper  caldrons, -one  containing  100  gold-plated 
buttons  with  intaglio  work-  Homeric  mention  of  caldrons — A  silver 
cow's  head  with  gold  horns  and  a  gold  sun  on  its  forehead  :  it  repre- 
sents Hera — Cow-heads  with  axes — Swords  and  lances  of  bronze- 
(iold-plated  wooden  sword-sheaths  and  hilts  with  gold  pins — Three 
masks  of  gold  covering  the  faces  of  the  bodies — A  fourth  mask,  repre- 
senting a  lion's  head — Two  seal-rings  and  a  bracelet,  with  ornaments 
— The  state  of  art  corresponds  with  that  described  in  Homer- 
Golden  breastplates  on  two  of  the  bodies  —  Golden  crown  by  the 
head  of  another  —  Golden  ornament  of  the  greaves  —  Borax  used 
then,  as  now,  for  soldering  gold — More  than  one  8cVa<;  if^ucvn tXXov, 
and  other  vessels  of  gold  and  silver  —  The  large  gold  goblet,  with 
doves  on  the  two  handles,  like  Nestor's  cup  in  the  Iliad — Two- 


212 


THE  FOURTH  SEPULCHRE. 


[Chap.  VIII. 


handled  terra-cotta  vases,  hand-made,  like  those  at  Troy  —  Orna- 
ments of  alabaster  —  Gold  shoulder-belts  (TeXa^wves)  —  Other  objects 
found  in  the  tomb,  of  rock  crystal,  amber,  alabaster  —  Golden 
diadems,  some  seemingly  for  children ;  also  a  child's  belt  and 
frontlet,  or  "  belle  Helene,"  and  other  ornaments  of  gold  —  Double 
edged  battle-axes — their  use  by  the  Greeks  as  a  symbol,  especially 
at  Tenedos  —  A  funeral  fork  of  copper  —  Vase-lids  of  bone 
—  Vessel  of  silver  and  lead  in  shape  of  an  animal  —  Buttons  of 
wood,  plated  with  gold,  splendidly  ornamented  —  Their  patterns  and 
workmanship  — Hundreds  of  gold  flowers,  plain  buttons,  and  other 
ornaments  of  gold  —  Larger  gold  buttons  splendidly  ornamented  — 
Leaves  of  gold  strewn  under,  over,  and  around  the  bodies  —  Wooden 
comb  with  gold  handle  —  Gold  models  of  temples  —  Many  golden 
cuttle-fish  —  Gold  knobs  for  sword-hilts,  highly  ornamented — Arrow- 
heads of  obsidian  —  Boars'  teeth  —  Large  copper  vessels  —  Custom 
of  placing  such  vessels  in  tombs  —  A  copper  tripod  —  Uses  of 
tripods  in  Homer— Bronze  swords,  lances,  and  knives  —  Some 
swords  with  parts  of  their  wooden  sheaths,  alabaster  handle-knobs, 
golden  studs,  &c.  —  Remnants  of  linen  sheaths  —  Oyster-shells  and 
unopened  oysters  —  Broken  pottery,  indicative  of  a  still  existing 
funeral  custom  —  The  bones  of  the  deceased  —  Alabaster  vases  — 
Hand-made  and  very  ancient  wheel-made  pottery  —  Fragments  of 
a  characteristic  form  of  goblet,  both  of  terra-cotta  and  of  gold  — 
Another  type  of  goblets  —  Two  whetstones  —  A  handle  of  unique 
work,  gold  encrusted  with  rock  crystal,  "  Oav/ia  ISarOcu.' 

Mycenae,  December  6,  1876. 

Encouraged  by  my  success,  I  resolved  upon  excavating 
the  whole  remaining  space  within  the  great  parallel  circle 
of  slabs  by  which  the  Agora  is  enclosed,  and  my  attention 
was  particularly  directed  to  the  spot  immediately  west  of 
the  sepulchre  last  excavated,  although  the  site  was  marked 
by  no  tombstone.  But,  at  marked  variance  with  the  colour 
of  the  soil  elsewhere,  I  found  here  only  black  earth,  which, 
at  a  depth  of  15  ft.,  was  already  intermixed  with  nothing 
else  than  hand-made  and  most  ancient  wheel-made  pottery, 
showing  that  the  site  had  not  been  disturbed  since  a 
remote  antiquity;  and  this  increased  my  hopes  of  making 
an  interesting  discovery. 

At  a  depth  of  20  ft.  below  the  former  surface  of  the 
mount  I  struck  an  almost  circular  mass  of  Cyclopean 


1876.]  AN  ALTAR  UPON  A  TOMB.  213 

masonry,  with  a  large  round  opening  in  the  form  of  a 
well ;  it  was  4  ft.  high  and  measured  7  ft.  from  north  to 
south,  and  5I  ft.  from  east  to  west.*  I  at  once  recognised 
in  this  curious  monument  a  primitive  altar  for  funeral  rites, 
and  was  strengthened  in  this  belief  by  two  slabs,  in  the 
form  of  tombstones,  2  ft.  9  in.  long,  and  1  ft.  6  in.  broad, 
and  a  short  column,  which  lay  in  a  horizontal  position 
below  the  altar,  and  which,  in  my  opinion,  must  have  once 
been  erected  on  the  spot  to  mark  the  site  of  a  sepulchre. 
Fragments  of  beautiful  hand-made  or  very  archaic  wheel- 
made  pottery  and  knives  of  obsidian  continued  to  be  the 
only  objects  of  human  industry  I  met  with. 

At  last,  at  a  depth  of  26k  ft.,  and  at  a  distance  of  only 
4  ft.  7  in.  from  the  tomb  last  described,  I  found  a  sepulchre, 
24  ft.  long,  and  i8£  ft.  broad,  which  had  been  cut  into 
the  rock  to  the  depth  of  6  ft.  on  its  west  side,  10  ft.  on  the 
north  side,  8  ft.  on  the  south  side,  and  on  the  east  side 
6i  ft.  deep,  its  bottom  being  33  ft.  below  the  former 
surtace  of  the  mount. f 

It  deserves  particular  notice  that  the  funeral  altar 
marked  precisely  the  centre  of  this  tomb,  and  thus  there 
can  be  no  doubt  that  it  had  been  erected  in  honour  of 
those  whose  mortal  remains  reposed  therein.  All  round  the 
four  sides  of  the  bottom  of  this  tomb  was,  on  a  foundation 
of  large  common  stones,  a  slanting  wall,  7  ft.  8  in.  high,  of 
large  pieces  of  schist,  of  irregular  form,  which  had  been 
joined  with  clay.  This  wall  projected  4  ft.,  and  thus 
considerably  diminished  the  size  of  the  sepulchre.  As  in 
all  the  other  tombs,  the  bottom  was  covered  with  a  layer 
of  pebbles,  on  which,  at  about  equal  distances  from  each 
other,  lay  the  bodies  of  five  men;  three  of  them  were 
lying  with  the  head  to  the  east,  and  the  feet  to  the  west ; 


*  See  Plan  F  for  a  ground  plan,  and  view  of  this  altar,  and  a  section 
of  the  ground,  the  altar  itself,  and  the  fourth  sepulchre, 
t  See  Plans  B,  BB,  C,  and  Plate  VI. 


2  14 


THE  FOURTH  SEPULCHRE.  [Chap.  VIII. 


the  other  two  were  lying  with  the  head  to  the  north  and 
the  feet  to  the  south.  The  bodies  had  evidently  been 
burned  on  the  very  spot  on  which  each  lay ;  this  was 
shown,  as  well  by  the  abundance  of  ashes  on  and  around 
each  corpse,  as  by  the  marks  of  the  fire  on  the  pebbles 
and  on  the  wall  of  schist.  The  cremation  of  all  the 
bodies  on  the  layer  of  pebbles  on  the  very  bottom  of 
this,  as  well  as  of  all  the  other  tombs,  has  been  officially 
authenticated  by  the  three  government  clerks,  whom 
the  Director-General  of  Antiquities  at  Athens,  Professor 
Panagiotes  Eustratiades,  has  sent  here  to  assist  me  in 
guarding  the  treasures,  as  well  as  by  the  Professor  of 
Archaeology,  Phendikles,  who  remained  here  two  weeks 
with  me,  and  by  the  thousands  of  people  who  flock  hither 
from  all  parts  of  the  Argolid  to  see  these  wonders ;  and, 
therefore,  any  one  who  doubts  the  exactness  of  my  state- 
ments as  to  the  cremation  is  requested  to  apply  to  the 
said  Director-General  or  to  the  Ministry  of  Public  Instruc- 
tion at  Athens. 

The  five  bodies  of  this  Fourth  Tomb  were  literally 
smothered  in  jewels,  all  of  which — as  in  the  other  tombs — 
show  unequivocal  marks  of  the  funeral  fires. 

Here,  as  well  as  in  the  first  and  third  tombs,  I  have 
noticed  that,  for  a  reason  unknown  to  me,  the  burned 
bodies,  with  their  golden  ornaments,  had  been  covered, 
after  the  cremation,  with  a  layer  (3  in.  to  4  in.  thick)  of 
the  same  white  clay  which  has  been  employed  to  join  the 
pieces  of  schist  of  the  slanting  internal  wall.  On  this 
layer  of  clay  was  put  the  second  layer  of  pebbles.  Down 
to  about  one  foot  above  the  upper  layer  of  pebbles,  the 
work  of  excavation  is  not  difficult,  for  we  have  merely 
to  direct  our  labourers  to  dig  here  or  there.  But  from 
that  point  we  have  to  do  the  work  ourselves ;  the  task 
is  exceedingly  difficult  and  painful  to  us,  particularly  in  the 
present  rainy  weather,  for  we  cannot  dig  otherwise  than  on 
our  knees,  and  by  cutting  the  earth  and  stones  carefully 


1876]  COPPER  VESSELS  :  NO  SOLDERING.  215 

away  with  our  knives,  so  as  not  to  injure  or  lose  any  of  the 
gold  ornaments. 

Beginning  the  excavation  of  the  lower  strata  of  this 
tomb  from  the  south  side,  I  at  once  struck  on  five  large 
copper  vessels  (Xerxes,  '  caldrons'),  in  one  of  which  were 
exactly  one  hundred  very  large  and  smaller  buttons  of 
wood,  covered  with  plates  of  gold,  with  a  splendid  intaglio 
work  of  spirals  and  other  ornamentation.  Three  of  the 
copper  vessels  measure  14  to  20  in.  in  diameter  each,  and 
have  two  upright  handles ;  the  fourth  is  of  the  same  form, 
but  has  three  handles;  the  fifth  is  a  can,  1  ft.  9  in.  high, 
with  two  handles,  of  which  the  one  is  nailed  to  the  mouth- 
piece and  the  upper  part  of  the  body  of  the  vessel,  and  the 
other  to  its  lower  part.  These  five  copper  vessels  stood 
all  upright,  close  to  the  southern  interior  wall. 

We  find  copper  vessels  (Xefi-qTes)  continually  referred 
to  in  the  Iliad,  together  with  tripods,  as  prizes  in  the  games 
or  as  presents.*  But  they  are  generally  referred  to  in  the 
Odyssey  as  basins,  in  which  the  hands  were  washed  at  the 
sacrifice  or  before  dinner.f  They  were  also  used  for  the 
foot-bath.J  It  deserves  particular  attention  that  three  of 
the  five  copper  vessels,  and  particularly  the  large  can,  show 
unequivocal  marks  of  long  use  on  the  fire.  It  deserves 
particular  attention  that  there  is  no  soldering  in  any  one 
of  the  large  copper  vessels  found  in  this  or  any  other  of 
the  Mycenean  tombs ;  these  large  vessels  consist  merely 
of  copper  plates,  solidly  joined  together  with  innumerable 
small  pins.  All  the  handles  are  likewise  attached  with 
broadheaded  nails. 

Close  to  the  copper  vessel  with  the  gold  buttons,  I 
found  a  cow's  head  of  silver,  with  two  long  golden  horns, 
which  I  represent  in  the  engravings  Nos.  327  and  328. 


*  See  for  example  //.  IX.  123,  265,  XXIII.  259  and  267,  XXIV. 
233  ;  Odyss.  XIII.  13. 

t  See  Od.  L  137,  UL  440.  %  Od.  XIX.  386,  469. 


2l6 


THE  FOURTH  SEPULCHRE.  [Chap.  VIII. 


ai8 


THE  FOURTH  SEPULCHRE. 


[Chap.  VIII. 


It  has  a  splendidly  ornamented  golden  sun,  of  2^  in.  in 
diameter,  on  its  forehead  ;  in  the  middle  of  the  head  is  a 
round  hole,  which  may  have  served  for  flowers.  I  here 
remind  the  reader  that  the  Egyptian  Apis  is  represented 
with  a  sun  between  its  horns. 

The  Mycenean  goldsmith  evidently  did  not  understand 
the  art  of  plating  silver  with  gold,  for,  whenever  he  had  to 
do  it,  he  first  plated  the  silver  with  copper,  and  then  plated 
the  copper  with  gold.  He  has  done  so  with  this  silver  cow- 
head,  whose  mouth,  eyes  and  ears  he  had  to  plate,  and, 
therefore,  he  first  plated  them  with  copper  and  then  plated 
the  copper  with  gold.  On  the  mouth  the  gold  plating 
is  very  well  preserved,  but  from  the  eyes  and  ears  it  has 
almost  entirely  disappeared.  There  can  be  no  doubt  that 
this  cow-head  was  intended  to  represent  the  goddess  Hera, 
the  patron  deity  of  Mycenae. 

There  were  also  found  here  the  two  cowheads  of  very 
thin  gold  plate,  Nos.  329  and  330,  which  have  a  double 


Nos.  329,  330.    Two  Golden  Cow-heads  with  double  axes.    Actual  size. 


axe  between  the  horns.  I  shall  discuss  hereafter  the 
symbol  of  the  double  axe,  which  occurs  repeatedly  in  these 
tombs.  I  would  here  call  particular  attention  to  the  three 
cowheads  with  long  horns,  two  of  which  are  of  gold,  and 
one  seemingly  of  silver,  which  figure  among  the  offerings 
in  the  wall  paintings  of  an  Egyptian  tomb  in  Thebes,  con- 


1876.]  HEAP  OF  SWORDS  AND  LANCES.  219 

served  in  the  British  Museum  ;  the  two  of  gold  are 
brought  by  Asiatics  on  golden  vases,  whilst  the  silver  cow- 
head  is  offered  by  Egyptians.  I  further  call  attention  to 
Mr.  G.  A.  Hoskins's  'Travels  in  /Ethiopia,'  p.  330,  where 
a  copy  is  given  of  a  wall  painting  of  a  tomb  in  Thebes, 
representing  a  grand  procession,  in  which,  among  other 
presents,  are  rings  and  four  cow  heads  with  long  horns, 
seemingly  all  of  gold. 

In  further  excavating  from  east  to  west  I  struck  a 
heap  of  more  than  twenty  bronze  swords  and  many  lances. 
Most  of  the  former  had  had  wooden  sheaths  and  handles 
inlaid  with  wood,  of  which  numerous  remnants  could  be 
seen.  Lying  all  along  and  in  the  heap  of  swords  I  found  a 
large  quantity  of  round  plates  of  gold  with  beautiful  in- 
taglio work,  and  remnants  of  flat  round  pieces  of  wood, 
which  had  once,  in  unbroken  series,  adorned  both  sides  of 
the  sword-sheaths.  The  largest  plate  was  at  the  broad  end 
of  the  sheath,  the  smallest  at  the  opposite  extremity.  The 
wooden  handles  of  the  swords  had  likewise  been  orna- 
mented with  large  round  plates,  covered  with  rich  intaglio 
work.  The  remaining  space  has  been  studded  with  gold 
pins,  and  gold  nails  can  be  seen  in  the  large  alabaster  or 
wooden  hilt-knobs  of  the  swords.  On  and  around  the 
swords  and  the  remnants  of  the  sheaths  could  be  seen  a 
great  quantity  of  fine  gold-dust,  which  can  leave  no  doubt 
that  the  handles  and  sheaths  had  also  been  gilded. 

Some  of  the  lance-shafts  seemed  to  be  well  preserved, 
but  they  crumbled  away  when  exposed  to  the  air.  Unfor- 
tunately the  skulls  of  the  five  bodies  were  in  such  a  state 
of  decomposition  that  none  of  them  could  be  saved  ;  the 
two  bodies  with  the  head  to  the  north  had  the  face  covered 
with  large  masks  of  gold-plate  in  rude  repoussi  work,  one 
of  which,  unfortunately,  has  been  so  much  injured  in  the 
funeral  fire  and  by  the  heavy  weight  of  the  stones  and 
debris,  and,  besides,  the  ashes  stick  so  firmly  to  it,  that 
it  was  impossible  to  get  a  good  photograph  of  it.  How 


2'20 


THE  FOURTH  SEPULCHRE. 


[Chap.  VIII. 


ever,  by  looking  at  it  for  some  minutes,  one  gets  a 
tolerable  idea  of  the  features.  It  represents  a  large  oval 
youthful  face  with  a  high  forehead,  a  long  Grecian  nose, 
and  a  small  mouth  with  thin  lips ;  the  eyes  are  shut,  and 
the  hairs  of  both  eyelashes  and  eyebrows  are  well  marked. 

Quite  a  different  physiognomy  is  represented  by  the 
second  mask  (No.  331),  which  shews  a  round  face,  with 


No.  331.    Mask  of  Gold,  found  on  the  face  of  a  body.    Sepulchre  IV.    Size  I  :  3,  about. 


full  cheeks  and  a  small  forehead,  with  which  the  nose  does 
not  range  in  a  straight  line,  as  on  the  other  mask;  the 
mouth  is  but  small,  and  has  thick  lips;  the  eyes  are 
shut,  and  the  eyelashes,  as  well  as  the  eyebrows,  which 
are  joined,  are  tolerably  represented. 

A  third  mask  of  much  thicker  gold-plate  was  found 
covering  the  face  of  one  of  the  three  bodies  which  lay 
with  the  head  to  the  east. 


i876.] 


GOLDEN  PORTRAIT  MASKS. 


221 


This  mask,  of  which  I  give  the  engraving  (No.  332), 
exhibits  again  a  totally  different  physiognomy:  the  wrinkles 
to  the  right  and  left  above  the  mouth,  and  the  expression 
of  the  very  large  mouth  with  thin  lips,  can  leave  no  doubt 


No.  332.    '  ("LI  Ma  k     Scpulcnrc  IV.    Size  3  :  8,  about. 


that  we  have  here  the  portrait  of  a  man  of  more  advanced 
age.  The  forehead  is  very  large  and  so  are  the  eyes,  which 
are  open  and  have  neither  lashes  nor  brows  marked : 
the  nose  has  been  much  pressed  by  the  stones  and  is 


222 


THE  FOURTH  SEPULCHRE. 


[Chap.  VIII. 


out  of  shape.  In  this  mask  is  preserved  part  of  the  skull 
of  the  man  whose  face  it  covered. 

The  physiognomies  represented  by  these  three  masks 
are  so  widely  different  from  each  other,  and  so  altogether 
different  from  the  ideal  types  of  the  statues  of  gods  and 
heroes,  that  there  cannot  be  the  slightest  doubt  that  every 
one  of  them  represents  the  likeness  of  the  deceased  whose 
face  it  covered.  Had  it  not  been  so,  all  the  masks  would 
have  represented  the  same  ideal  type. 

A  fourth  heavy  golden  mask  was  found  at  the  head  of 
another  of  the  three  bodies  which  had  their  heads  turned  to 
the  east.  This  object  was  bent  double,  and  looked  so  little 
like  a  mask  that  I  took  it  for  a  helmet,  and  described 
it  as  such  in  my  letter  published  in  the  Times  of  the  27th 
December  last ;  but,  having  unbent  it,  I  see  that  it  has 
nothing  of  the  shape  of  a  cap  and  can  only  have  been 
intended  for  a  mask  to  cover  the  face  of  the  body :  it 
had  probably  been  accidentally  removed  in  the  process  of 
cremation.  At  first  sight  its  engraving  (No.  326,  p.  211) 
resembles  more  a  jacket  than  anything  else  ;  but,  on  closer 
examination,  we  find  that  it  represents  a  lion's  head,  whose 
ears  and  eyes  are  distinctly  seen.  Being  of  the  purest 
gold,  it  is  so  soft  that  several  pieces  have  been  broken  away, 
as,  for  example,  one  from  the  vertex  of  the  head,  another 
from  the  nose,  a  third  from  the  jaws,  and  a  fourth  from 
the  mane,  to  the  left  of  the  spectator ;  but  they  are 
preserved,  and  can  easily  be  added  by  an  able  goldsmith. 
But  still,  even  in  its  present  defective  condition,  the  nose 
and  the  large  upper  jaws  of  the  lion  are  distinctly  seen. 
To  the  right  of  the  spectator  we  see  in  the  rim  two  small 
round  perforations,  and  there  are  similar  perforations  in 
the  missing  piece  of  the  left  side.  They  must  certainly 
have  been  used  to  fasten  the  mask  on  another  object.  I 
call  particular  attention  to  the  disproportionately  small  and 
but  very  rudely  represented  eyes  and  ears  of  the  lion's  head. 

Neither  in  Homer  nor  in  any  of  the  later  classics 


1876.]  ARCHAIC  SEAL-RINGS.  223 

do  we  find  any  allusion  to  the  custom  of  burying  the  dead 
with  masks  representing  their  portrait,  or  with  any  masks  at 
all.  Masks  of  wood,  which  however  represent  but  an 
ideal  type  and  no  portrait,  are  sometimes  found  in  Egyptian 
tombs.*  In  a  tomb  near  Kertch  there  was  also  found  the 
mask  of  a  woman,  which  may  represent  a  portrait.]-  A 
bronze  mask  was  found  at  Nola.J 


A  H 

Nos.  333,  A,  B.    Two  Oold  Signet  Rings.    Sepulchre  IV.    Actual  size. 

I  further  found,  with  the  three  bodies  whose  heads  were 
laid  towards  the  east,  the  two  large  golden  signet  rings 
(Nos.  334  and  335)  and  the  large  golden  bracelet  (No. 


M"s-  3J4.  JJ5-    Intaglios  on  the  Signet  Rings.    Sepulclirc  IV.    Actual  size. 


336).  Nos.  333  a  and  b  show  the  inverse  side  of  the 
rings.  The  surfaces  of  both  signets  are  slightly  convex  ; 
the  one  (No.  334)  represents  in  very  archaic  intaglio  a 
hunter  with  his  charioteer  in  a  chariot  drawn   by  two 


*  See  Caylus,  '  Recueil  d'Antiquites,'  I.  41,  pL  XI. 

t  '  Antiquitc's  du  Bosphore  Cimmerien,'  Blanche  L  ;  where  also 
mention  is  made  of  a  gold  mask  found  at  Olbia. 

X  Tischbein, '  Recueil  de  (Iravures,'  IL  I  j  where  also  mention  is  made 
of  an  iron  mask  from  a  sepulchre  at  Santa  Agata  dei  ( ioti. 


224 


THE  FOURTH  SEPULCHRE.  [Chap.  VIII. 


stallions,  whose  eight  feet  are  in  the  air  and  in  a  line 
parallel  with  the  ground,  to  indicate  the  great  speed  with 
which  they  are  dashing  forward.  Their  bushy  tails  are 
uplifted,  and  are  very  natural,  as  are  also  their  bodies, 
except  the  heads,  which  are  more  like  camels'  than  horses' 
heads.  There  are  no  straps  visible  to  attach  the  horses  to 
the  chariot,  which  is  of  a  different  shape  from  the  chariots 
which  we  see  on  the  Mycenean  sculptures,  for  here  the 
sides  are  cut  out  in  the  form  of  a  crescent  and  are  consoli- 
dated by  three  projecting  headings,  which  probably  go 
round  the  chariot,  at  least  on  three  sides.  But  the  wheel 
is  exactly  like  those  on  the  sculptures,  for  it  has  only 
four  spokes,  which  form  a  cross  round  the  axle. 

The  two  men  are  naked,  and  wear  merely  a  belt  round 
the  loins ;  their  uncovered  heads  show  thick  but  not  long 
hair  ;  both  wear  earrings ;  their  faces  are  much  protruding, 
and  are  very  archaic,  particularly  that  of  the  charioteer, 
of  whose  body  we  see  the  full  front  view,  though  his 
head  is  turned  to  the  right :  his  shoulders  are  too 
broad  and  angular,  and  are  disproportionate  to  the  rest 
of  the  body.  The  hunter,  who  appears  to  be  much 
younger  than  his  companion,  leans  over  the  chariot, 
holding  in  his  left  hand  a  bow ;  with  his  right  he  has 
drawn  the  cord,  and  is  just  in  the  act  of  shooting  an 
arrow  at  a  stag  with  long  horns,  which  is  running  before 
the  chariot,  and  seems  to  turn  its  head  back,  full  of 
anguish.  It  deserves  particular  attention  that  the  stag  is 
represented  in  the  air,  and  that  its  hind-feet  are  on  the 
same  level  with  the  men  in  the  chariot,  while  its  fore-feet 
are  much  higher  still.  Otherwise  the  body  of  the  stag 
is  made  true  to  nature.  The  object  just  before  the  horses' 
feet  is  meant  to  represent  the  flat  ground,  though  it  looks 
rather  like  a  tree  on  account  of  the  curve  of  the  ring. 
The  object  above  the  stag  and  above  the  archer  is  a  mere 
ornament,  and  is  perhaps  intended  to  represent  the  clouds ; 
Mr.  Newton  thinks  it  represents  mountains. 

Still  more  interesting  is  the  battle-scene  on  the  other 


1876.]  BATTLE  SCENE  ON  A  RING.  225 

signet-ring  (No.  335) ;  where  we  see  four  warriors,  of 
whom  the  one  has  evidently  vanquished  the  other  three. 
One  of  the  latter,  who  is  wounded,  sits  on  the  ground  to 
the  right  of  the  victor,  supporting  himself  with  his  hands. 
He  has  only  a  short  helmet  (Kvvd-q)  on  his  head,  and  is 
otherwise  completely  naked.  His  beard  is  well  shown,  and 
the  Mycenean  engraver  has  taken  great  pains  to  represent 
the  anatomy  of  the  body ;  though  he  is  sitting  and  with 
his  feet  stretched  sideways  to  the  spectator,  yet  we  see 
the  full  upper  part  of  his  body  in  front  without  any  per- 
spective diminution. 

The  second  vanquished  warrior  seems  also  to  be 
wounded,  for  he  is  kneeling  on  one  knee  before  the  victor, 
whilst  his  other  foot  is  stretched  on  the  ground  ;  but  still  he 
is  fighting  against  his  antagonist,  whose  breast  he  has  seized 
with  his  left  hand,  endeavouring  to  stab  him  with  the  long 
sword  which  he  holds  in  his  right  hand.  I  call  particular 
attention  to  the  large  knob  at  the  end  of  the  sword-handle. 

The  wounded  man  is  not  quite  naked,  because  we 
distinctly  see  on  him  a  pair  of  trousers,  which,  however, 
reach  only  down  to  the  middle  of  the  thighs.  I  lis  head 
would,  no  doubt,  have  been  quite  well  proportioned  had 
not  the  artist  forgotten  to  remove  a  small  particle  of  gold  ; 
by  this  a  small  white  line  is  produced  in  the  photograph, 
which  makes  it  appear  as  if  there  were  only  a  helmet  and 
no  head.  If  we  imagine  this  small  white  line  removed,  we 
at  once  recognise  the  true  proportions  of  the  head,  with  its 
small  helmet,  which  has  an  upper  part  (<f>d\o<;),  but  no 
\<k/>05  or  crest.  Though  this  man  is  also  kneeling  sideways 
to  the  spectator,  still  we  see  his  whole  body  in  front  without 
any  perspective  diminution. 

The  third  warrior  seems  to  have  taken  to  flight  ;  we 
see  only  his  head  and  his  feet,  the  rest  of  his  body 
being  hidden  by  an  enormous  shield,  of  a  peculiar  form, 
which,  if  the  man  were  standing  upright,  would  cover  his 
whole  body  from  head  to  foot.    We  see  a  border  all 


29 


226  THE  FOURTH  SEPULCHRE.  [Chap.  VIII. 

around  this  shield,  and  there  appears  to  be  also  some 
ornament  on  it,  which,  however,  is  difficult  to  distinguish. 
It  is  only  owing  to  the  curve  of  the  ring  that  he  is  not 
shown  standing  upright.  This  shield  represents  to  us,  no 
doubt,  one  of  the  large  Homeric  shields,  which  were  so 
enormous  that  the  poet  compares  them  to  towers :  * 

"  Ajax  approached  ;  before  him,  as  a  tower, 
His  mighty  shield  he  bore,  seven-fold,  brass-bound, 
The  work  of  Tychius,  best  artificer 
That  wrought  in  leather ;  he  in  Hyla  dwelt." 

Lord  Derby. 

This  warrior's  head  is  covered  with  a  helmet,  having  a 
broad  border  and  a  large  (jydXoq  and  attached  to  it  the 
\6cf>o<;,  from  which  a  long  and  well-represented  crest 
(IWovpis)  is  waving.  He  appears  to  have  stopped  in  his 
flight,  and,  having  turned  his  head,  he  is  trying  to  thrust 
his  long  lance  at  the  victor.  This  latter  is  of  gigantic 
proportions,  and  has  on  his  head  a  helmet  similar  to  that 
of  the  other  man  with  the  tower-like  shield ;  only  the 
crest  is  different,  consisting  here  of  three  straps  which 
may  represent  ostrich  feathers.  He  appears  to  wear  a 
broad  belt,  because  four  long  straps  are  hanging  down 
from  his  loins  :  his  body  is  the  best  proportioned  of  all. 
He  seizes  with  his  left  hand  the  vanquished  man  before  him, 
whilst  with  his  uplifted  right  hand  he  deals  him  a  deadly 
blow  with  a  broad  two-edged  sword,  on  the  handle  of  which 
we  again  see  one  of  those  very  large  knobs,  of  which  we 
find  here  so  many  of  alabaster  or  wood.  The  posture  of 
the  victor  is  perfectly  faithful  to  nature  ;  he  is  stepping  with 
his  left  foot  forward  and  leaning  on  it  the  whole  weight  of 
his  body,  in  order  to  strike  a  more  powerful  blow.  Above 
the  four  warriors  is  an  ornament  in  which  Mr.  Newton 

*  See  //.  VII.  219:— 

Pitas  5'  eyyv0€v  %\0€,  (ptpwv  ctokos  t)i5t6  nvpyov, 
■%6.AKeov,  tirrafiSetov,  '6  oi  Tux'°s  Kafit  Tfvxwv, 
<tkvtot6h<»v  &x  &pwros,  "TAtj  ivi  oIk'io.  va'twv. 

also  XI.  485  ;  XVII.  128. 


i876.] 


MASSIVE  GOLDEN  BRACELET. 


227 


may  be  right  in  seeing  a  rude  representation  of  mountains. 
I  may  here  add  that  both  signet-rings  are  but  very  small, 
and  could  only  fit  on  ladies'  fingers. 

When  I  brought  to  light  these  wonderful  signets,  I 
involuntarily  exclaimed:  "The  author  of  the  '  Iliad '  and 
the  '  Odyssey  '  cannot  but  have  been  born  and  educated 
amidst  a  civilisation  which  was  able  to  produce  such  works 
as  these.  Only  a  poet  who  had  objects  of  art  like  these  con- 
tinually before  his  eyes  could  compose  those  divine  poems." 
Mr.  Gladstone  has  already  proved  beyond  any  doubt  in 
his  celebrated  'Homeric  Synchronism'  that  Homer  was 


No.  336.    A  Bracelet  of  Gold.    Sepulchre  IV.    Actual  »i/c. 


an  Acluran,  and  I  am  constantly  bringing  to  light  in  the 
depths  of  Mycenae  thousands  of  additional  proofs  that  he 
is  perfectly  right. 

Highly  interesting  is  also  the  very  heavy,  massive, 
golden  bracelet,  which  I  represent  under  No.  336.  In 
remarkable  contrast  with  the  size  of  the  signet-rings,  it  is 
so  enormously  large  that  it  would  fit  on  the  loins  of 
an  ordinary  man.  It  is  ornamented  with  vertical  strokes 
between  two  margins  formed  by  two  circular  bands ;  and 
further  with  a  beautiful  flower  of  gold,  which  is  not 
soldered  directly  on  the  bracelet,  but  is  fastened  with  a 
silver  pin  to  a  plate  of  the  same  metal,  and  this  latter  is 
soldered  on  the  ring.    The  silver  plate,  part  of  which  is 


228 


THE  FOURTH  SEPULCHRE. 


[Chap.  VIII. 


broken  off  all  round,  appears  to  have  represented  four 
flowers,  and  there  are  signs  of  its  having  been  plated  with 
copper,  which  has  no  doubt  been  plated  with  gold ; 
because,  as  I  have  before  stated,  the  Mycenean  goldsmiths 
did  not  know  the  art  of  plating  silver  with  gold. 

The  two  bodies  which  are  turned  with  the  head  to  the 
east,  whose  faces  were  covered  with  gold  masks,  had  also 
the  breasts  covered  with  large  golden  breast-plates.  The 
one  is  of  massive  gold,  but  without  any  ornamentation  ; 
the  other  is  of  a  much  thinner  gold  plate,  and  decorated 
with  a  repousst  work  of  two  borders  of  small  circles,  within 
which  are  five  rows  of  shield-like  ornaments  with  concen- 
tric circles.  This  latter  breast-cover  has,  at  each  of  its 
extremities,  a  hole  for  fastening  it  to  the  body.  Close  to 
the  head  of  another  body,  I  found  the  beautiful  golden 
crown  (are)u/m,  No.  337),  but  it  must  be  distinctly  under- 
stood that  it  is  represented  here  head  downward,  because  to 
that  side  which  is  shown  here  as  the  lower,  were  attached, 
with  very  small  pins,  of  which  six  can  be  seen,  a  number  of 
leaves,  a  few  of  which  still  remain ;  and  if,  therefore,  the 
crown  had  been  put  round  the  head  as  it  is  shown  here, 
the  leaves  would  have  hung  over  the  eyes,  which  can  never 
have  been  the  case.*  Thus,  this  crown  had  on  its  upper 
side  the  leaves,  and  on  its  lower  a  small  border  with  small 
oblique  strokes,  the  intervening  space  being  filled  up  in  the 
middle  with  three  rosettes,  intersected  by  vertical  rows  of 
very  small  shield-like  circles,  and  at  both  ends  with  similar 
circles  or  with  larger  ones.  At  each  extremity,  there  is 
a  very  small  perforation,  through  which  the  crown  was 
fastened  by  means  of  a  thin  gold  wire.  This  crown  resem- 
bles the  one  already  shown  (see  No.  281),  but  its  orna- 
mentation is  much  less  sumptuous. 

*  This  explanation  is  rendered  necessary  by  the  way  in  which  the 
photograph  was  taken.  To  invert  the  position  would  require  complete 
recomposition  of  the  light  and  shadows  ;  and  this  has  been  done  by  our 
artist  in  the  case  of  No.  281,  on  account  of  the  importance  of  the  object. 


i876.| 


SPLENDID  GOLDEN  CROWN. 


22c) 


230 


THE  FOURTH  SEPULCHRE. 


[Chap.  VIII. 


No.  338  represents 
the  thigh-bone  of  one 
of  the  bodies  of  this  se- 
pulchre, around  which 
was  still  attached  the 
golden  band,  which 
served  both  for  fasten- 
ing and  ornamenting 
the  greave  (kz^/us). 
The  band  consists  of 


two 


parts, 


the  lower 


horizontal  and  the  up- 
per vertical;  the  for- 
mer being  attached  by 
a  fine  gold  wire,  the 
latter  by  means  of  the 
ring  which  we  see  at  its 
extremity  and  which 
must  have  been  fastened 
to  a  button  fixed  to  the 
short  trousers,  of  which 
we  have  seen  a  speci- 
men on  the  ring  (No. 
335).  We  have  already 
seen*  that  the  greaves 
were  attached  above 
the  knee,  and  the  exist- 
ence of  this  greave- 
holder  on  the  thigh- 
bone can  leave  no 
doubt  that  such  was 
the  general  custom. 
The  lower  band  is  decorated  all  round  with  an  imitation 
of  leaves,  and  in  front  with  two  rosettes.     On  the  upper 


No.  338. 

A  Human  Thigh-bone,  with  a  gold  ornament  of  the 
greaves  still  attached  to  it. 
Sepulchre  IV.    Size  1  :  4,  about. 


*  See  No.  213,  p.  133- 


i876.] 


GOLD  SOLDERED  WITH  BORAX. 


band  we  see  soldered  a  smaller  and  thicker  one,  with  the 
unmistakeable  intention  to  give  it  more  substance. 

While  speaking  of  soldering,  I  may  mention  that  Pro- 
fessor Landerer  informs  me  that  the  Mycenean  goldsmiths 
soldered  gold  with  the  help  of  borax  (borate  of  soda),  which 
is  still  used  at  the  present  day  for  the  same  purpose.  Ik- 
adds  that  he  was  lucky  enough  to  discover  this  salt  on  the 
border  of  an  ancient  false  medal  from  yEgina  j  that  it  was 
called  in  antiquity  xpvcroKokka.  ("  gold  cement  "),  and  that 
it  was  imported  from  Persia  and  India  under  the  name 
of  Baurac-Pounxa-Tin/cal.  In  the  Middle  Ages,  it  was 
imported  by  the  Venetians  from  Persia  to  Venice,  where 
it  was  purified  and  exported  under  the  denomination  of 
Borax  Venetus. 

There  were  further  found  with  the  five  bodies  of  this 
sepulchre  nine  vessels  of  gold  ;  the  first  (No.  339)  being  a 


No.  339.    A  Golden  Goblet  with  two  handles    .  -  ^  ap^txvfrcAAor/.    Sepulchre  IV 
Size  5  :  8  about. 


large  massive  golden  goblet  with  two  handles,  and,  there- 
fore, an  Homeric  SeVai  afifjuKvuekKov  ;  it  has  no  ornamenta- 


232  THE  FOURTH  SEPULCHRE.  [Chap.  VIII. 

tion.  The  two  golden  goblets,  one  of  which  is  shown 
(No.  340),  are,  as  Professor  A.  Rousopoulos  observed  to 


No.  340.    Golden  Goblet  with  one  handle.    Sepulchre  IV.    Si/.e  5  :  6,  about. 

me,  of  the  pattern  called  in  Greek  avXaKcord  ("furrowed"), 
each  of  them  being  encircled  by  nine  parallel  furrows ; 

each  has  only  one  handle. 
Another  gold  vessel  (No. 
341)  found  in  this  sepul- 
chre, is  a  beautiful  cenocho'e, 
with  a  large  handle,  and 
decorated  in  repoussi  work, 
with  three  parallel  horizon- 
tal rows  of  spirals,  united 
with  each  other  and  form- 
ing an  interwoven  orna- 
mentation, which  fills  the 
whole  body  of  the  flagon 
with  a  net-work,  and  which, 
as  Dr.  Schlie  remarked  to 
me  regarding  the  perfectly 
similar  spiral  net-work  on 
the   sepulchral  stele  (No. 

A  Golden  Wine-Flagon  (oii/oxor)).    Sepulchre  IV.        I  zLO^*     is     in     DnnCiple  the 
Size  7  :  10.  1     /  r  r 


*  See  p.  81. 


1876.]  CURIOUS  GOLDEN  GOBLETS.  233 

same  as  the  filling  up  with  frets  or  spirals  combined 
horizontally   and    vertically.     The  foot   of  the  oenocho'e 


No.  342.    A  Golden  Cup.    Sepulchre  IV.    Size  4  :  5. 


is  ornamented  with  small  slanting  strokes.  I  also  found 
a  gold  goblet  with   one   handle  (No.  342),    the  body 


No.  343.    A  plain  massive  Cup  of  Cold,    bepukhrc  IV.    Size  a  :  5,  about. 

of  which  is  encircled  with  a  broad  band  of  a  plain  orna- 
mentation in  repoussi  work,  resembling  blades  of  knives. 


30 


234  THE  FOURTH  SEPULCHRE.  [Chap.  VIII. 

Further,  a  plain  massive  golden  goblet  of  a  new  shape 
(No.  343)  having  one  handle,  which,  like  all  the  other 
handles,  is  fastened  to  the  vessel  with  gold  nails  with  broad 
convex  heads,  which  can  be  seen  on  the  inner  side  of 
the  rim.  If  we  take  away  the  handle,  this  goblet  resem- 
bles our  present  water-glasses,  but  its  cup  is  larger  and  its 
foot  smaller. 

I  would  here  call  very  particular  attention  to  the  fact  that 
this  golden  goblet  more  or  less  exactly  represents  the  form 
of  all  the  goblets  of  terra-cotta  found  at  Mycenae  (see  No. 
83,  p.  70,  and  Nos.  84  and  88  on  p.  71).  It  further  deserves 
special  notice  that,  as  before  stated,  the  British  Museum 
contains,  of  perfectly  the  same  shape,  fourteen  terra-cotta 


No.  344.    A  large  massive  Gold  Goblet  with  two  handles  (Senas  aix<t>tKvn<i\Kvi>),  weighing  4  lbs. 
troy.    Sepulchre  IV.  Half-size. 


goblets  found  in  the  tomb  of  Ialysus.  It  is  also  worthy  of 
particular  notice  that  exactly  the  same  form  of  goblet  was 
found  by  me  at  Troy  (Hissarlik),  in  a  depth  of  50  feet,  in 
the  most  ancient  of  the  four  prehistoric  cities.* 

*  See  my  'Atlas  des  Antiquites  Troyennes,'  Plate  105,  No.  231 1. 


1 876.J         WONDERFUL  DEl'AS  AMPH I KYPELLON. 


235 


But  the  most  remarkable  of  the  vessels  deposited  in  this 
sepulchre  is  an  enormous  massive  golden  goblet  with  two 
handles — SeVas  afx^LKv-rrekkov — weighing  four  pounds  troy 
(No.  344).*  It  is  one  of  the  most  splendid  jewels  of 
the  Mycenean  treasure  j  but,  unfortunately,  it  has  been 
crumpled  up  by  the  ponderous  weight  of  the  stones 
and  debris,  and  its  body  has  been  compressed  upon  the 
foot,  so  that  the  spectator  cannot  fully  realise  from  the 
engraving  the  magnificence  of  this  royal  cup.  Any  gold- 
smith might  easily  restore  it  to  its  former  shape,  but  I 
think  it  would  be  far  better  to  leave  it  as  it  is,  because 
it  has  thus  a  far  higher  value  to  science;  and,  as  a  general 
rule,  I  may  remark  that  the  less  ancient  jewels  of  gold 
are  touched  and  handled,  the  better,  because  their  great 
value  lies  in  the  tarnish  of  antiquity — the  "patina" — 
which  no  human  hand  can  imitate,  and  which,  when  once 
lost,  can  never  be  restored. 

The  body  of  this  costly  goblet  is  encircled  by  a  row  of 
fourteen  splendid  rosettes,  between  an  upper  band  of  three 
lines,  and  a  lower  one  of  two  ;  the  foot,  by  a  band  of  large 
protruding  globular  points.  Not  only  the  flat  sides  of  the 
handles,  but  even  their  edges,  are  ornamented.  Here  also 
may  be  seen  the  heads  of  the  golden  pins  with  which  the 
handles  are  attached  to  the  rim  and  body. 

No.  345  (p.  236)  represents  a  plain,  large,  massive  golden 
goblet,  with  one  handle,  of  which  the  side  turned  to  the 
spectator  is  much  crumpled  and  compressed  ;  it  has  no 
other  ornament  than  a  thick,  protruding  band,  by  which 
the  body  is  encircled. 

The  splendid  massive  golden  goblet  (No.  346,  p.  237) 
is  also  defaced,  having  been  pressed  over  to  the  left  side  of 
the  spectator.  It  has  two  horizontal  handles,  each  formed 
by  thick  plates,  which  are  joined  by  a  small  cylinder.  The 


*  The  photograph  was  unfortunately  taken  in  sucli  a  position  as  to 
show  only  one  of  the  two  handles. 


236 


THE  FOURTH  SEPULCHRE.  [Chap.  VIII. 


lower  plate  of  each  of  these  handles  is  attached  to  the  large 
round  foot  by  a  long  broad  thick  gold  band,  whose  upper 
part  is  embellished  with  a  long  opening,  the  upper  end 
of  which  is  pointed,  the  lower  being  round.  The  lower  part 
of  the  band  is,  for  a  like  purpose,  cut  out  into  three  straps, 
which  join  again  on  the  foot  of  the  goblet,  where  the  band 
is  fastened  with  two  golden  pins,  with  broad  flat  round 
heads,  which  can  be  seen  in  the  engraving.  On  each  upper 
plate  of  the  two  handles  is  soldered  a  beautiful  little  golden 


No.  345.    Gold  Cup  with  one  handle.    Sepulchre  IV.    Size  11  :  12,  about. 


pigeon,  apparently  of  cast-work,  with  the  beak  turned 
towards  the  goblet,  so  that  the  two  pigeons  are  looking  at 
each  other.  This  goblet  vividly  reminds  us  of  Nestor  s 
cup.* 

*  //.  XI.  632-635  :— 

Trap  St  SeVaS  irepi/caAAts,  t  olnoBev  7)7'  6  yepcuds, 
Xpwfiois  fiAoiffi  Treirapfiei/oy  '  ovara  S'avrov 
riacrap  Hcrav,  Soial  St  ir€\(td5€s  a.fj.<p\s  ixaoTov 
Xpvattat  vtfitdovTo'  Svui  5'  virb  irvdjieves  rfaav. 

"She  placed  beside  them  a  splendid  goblet,  which  the  old  man  had  brought  with 
him  from  home  ;  it  was  studded  with  golden  pins  ;  it  had  four  handles,  on  each 
of  which  pecked  two  golden  pigeons  ;  the  goblet  had  two  bottoms." 


1876.]  THE  NESTORIAN  GOBLET.  237 

Homer's  description  of  this  Nestorian  goblet  fully 
answers  to  the  vase  before  us,  except  that  the  former  is 
much  larger  and  has  four  handles,  each  with  two  pigeons, 
instead  of  only  two  handles,  each  with  but  one  pigeon, 
as  our  engraving  shows.  The  Nestorian  goblet  had  two 
bottoms,  and  so  has  our  goblet,  because  it  is  impossible 
to  understand  by  "  two  bottoms "  anything  else  than  the 
bottom  of  the  goblet  and  the  bottom  of  its  foot.  The 
usual  explanation  of  the  Nestorian  goblet,  as  having  an 


Mo.  346.    A  Golden  Goblet  {&inat  ap^invirtAAoi')  with  two  doves  on  the  handles.    Sepulchre  IV 

Size  3 :  8. 

upper  and  a  lower  cup  (the  form  also  attributed  to  all 
the  Homeric  SeVa  a/if/nKwe\\a),  is  altogether  erroneous. 
A  goblet  of  such  a  shape  woidd  have  only  one  bottom 
common  to  its  two  cups,  and  it  could  not,  therefore,  answer 
the  requirements  of  the  Homeric  description.  Further,  a. 
such  a  double  goblet  could  at  all  events  be  filled  only  on 
one  side  at  a  time,  there  would  be  no  raison  d'etre  for 
the  two  cups  in  opposite  directions.  Besides,  whenever  a 
goblet  with  wine  is  presented  by  one  person  to  another, 
Homer  clearly  always  means  it  to  be  understood  that  it 


238  THE  FOURTH  SEPULCHRE.  [Chap.  VIII. 

is  a  SeVas  ajx^iKvireWov,  namely,  that  it  is  double-handled, 
and  that,  being  presented  with  the  one  handle,  it  is  received 
by  the  other.  I  may  mention,  besides,  that  no  goblet  with 
an  upper  and  a  lower  cup  has  ever  yet  been  found,  while 
I  found  twenty  differently-shaped  goblets  with  two  handles 
at  Troy,  and  a  large  number  of  double-handled  goblets  at 
Mycenae,  all  of  which  can  be  nothing  else  than  SeVa 
dfX(f)LKVTTekXa. 

Athenaeus*  lays  great  weight  on  the  explanation  of 
the  Nestorian  goblet,  as  given  by  a  certain  Apelles,  who 
maintained  that  it  was  nothing  else  than  a  goblet  with 
a  foot,  on  two  sides  of  which  latter  were  soldered  two 
bands  (of  metal),  which  had  a  common  base,  and  stood 
vertically  not  far  from  each  other.  These  bands  reached  to 
above  the  mouth  of  the  goblet,  and  were  bent  over  and 
joined  again  in  one  sole  piece,  which  was  soldered  to  the  rim. 
Apelles  maintained  that  by  the  four  handles  of  the  Nes- 
torian goblet,  Homer  could  mean  nothing  else  than  these 
handles,  which  were  properly  but  two,  but  were  called  four, 
in  consequence  of  being  divided.  Thus,  as  there  were  only 
two  pigeons  at  the  juncture  of  each  of  those  two  metal 
bands,  the  Nestorian  goblet  had  in  all  only  four  pigeons. 
This  explanation  of  Apelles  very  nearly  answers  to  the 
shape  of  the  goblet  before  us. 

I  would  also  suggest  that  the  shape  of  the  Nestorian 
goblet  may  be  imagined  as  perfectly  similar  to  the  goblet 
before  us,  because  this  really  has  four  handles ;  namely, 
the  two  horizontal  ones,  on  which  the  pigeons  lie,  and  the 
two  lower  ones  which  are  produced  by  the  thick  vertical 
straps,  which  join  them  at  the  foot.  If  so,  the  only 
difference  would  be  that  Nestor's  goblet  had  one  more 
pigeon  on  each  of  these  double  handles.  But  the  question 
is  what  that  goblet  was  made  of.  Probably  it  was  of  wood 
and  studded  with  gold  nails ;  because,  if  it  had  been  of  gold 


'  Deipnosophistas,'  XL  77. 


1876.]  SPLENDIDLY  ORNAMENTED  CUP.  239 

or  some  other  metal,  it  is  difficult  to  suppose  that  it  could 
have  been  studded  with  gold  nails. 

I  further  picked  up  in  this  tomb  the  beautiful  large 
golden  goblet  represented  by  No.  347.    It  has  a  broad 


No.  347.    A  large  Gold  Cup.    Sepulchre  IV.    Size  4  :  5. 


handle,  which  is  attached  to  the  rim  and  body  by  three 
pins  with  large  flat  heads.  The  outside  of  the  goblet 
is  divided  by  vertical  lines  into  seven  compartments,  in 
each  of  which  is  represented,  in  magnificent  repoussi 
work,  a  flower  which  fills  the  whole  space  between  the  rim 
and  the  bottom.  I  found  in  this  tomb  still  another  large 
golden  goblet  with  splendid  repoussi  ornamentation,  but,  by 
a  mistake  quite  inexplicable,  it  has  not  been  photographed. 
With  the  five  bodies  of  the  fourth  tomb  was  further 


240  THE  FOURTH  SEPULCHRE.  [Chap.  VIII. 

found  the  beautiful  heavy  massive  silver  goblet  (No.  348) 
which,  is  exceedingly  well   preserved,   and  has  only  one 


No.  348.    Large  Silver  Goblet,  richly  plated  with  gold.    Sepulchre  IV.    Size  4  :  7. 


handle,  in  the  form  of  the  golden  handle  of  the  cup 
No.  346.    This  handle  is  fastened  to  the  rim  and  body  of 


No.  349.    Hand-made  Vase  of  Terra-cotta.    Sepulchre  IV.    About  half-size. 


the  goblet  by  four  gold  nails  having  large  round  flat  heads. 
The  piece  of  metal,  which  we  see  on  the  body  of  the  vessel, 


1876. 1  OBJECTS  OF  EGYPTIAN  PORCELAIN.  241 

was  accidentally  soldered  to  it  by  the  fire  of  the  funeral 
pile,  and  does  not  belong  to  it.  The  whole  body  was 
plated  with  copper,  and  this  plating  was  again  plated  with 
gold,  and  the  gold  was  covered  with  a  splendid  ornamenta- 
tion of  intaglio  work,  which  seems  to  be  very  well  pre- 
served, but  only  very  little  of  it  can  be  seen,  on  account 
of  the  dirt  with  which  the  goblet  is  covered.  Mr.  A. 
Postolaccas  reminds  me  that  the  spiral  band,  of  which  a 
small  part  is  visible  in  the  engraving,  is  also  found  on  the 
medals  of  Tarentum,  and  represents  there  the  waves  ot 
the  sea. 


Nos.  350,  351.    Objects  of  Lgyptian  Porcelain,  of  unknown  use.    Sepulchre  IV.    Size  3  :  5 


There  were  further  found  in  the  same  tomb  three  hand- 
made terra-cotta  vases  with  two  handles,  one  of  which  is 
represented  (No.  349)  ;  this  form  is  very  common  in  Troy, 
but  it  is  very  often  set  on  three  small  feet.* 

•  See  '  Troy  and  its  Remains,'  p.  87,  No.  53,  and  p.  169,  No.  192. 


31 


242  THE  FOURTH  SEPULCHRE.  [Chap.  VIII. 


I  also  found  the  two  objects  (Nos.  350  and  351)  which 
Mr.  Newton  holds  to  be  of  Egyptian  porcelain ;  their  use 
is  altogether  unknown  to  me.  The  smaller  piece  has  an 
ornamentation  of  white  and  black  parallel  lines ;  the  other 
has,  on  a  dead  green  ground,  parallel  bands  of  four  white 
lines,  which  cross  each  other  so  as  to  form  a  number  of 
small  squares.  The  lower  part  of  No.  351  has  an  impressed 
ornamentation,  representing  tassels  painted  black,  in  each  of 
which  we  see  a  noose  perfectly  similar  in  form  to  the  two 


No.  352.    Alabaster  model  of  a  sort  of  scarf  tied  in  a  noose.    Sepulchre  IV.    Size  2  :  3,  about. 

objects  of  alabaster  (see  No.  352),  which,  as  the  three 
perforations  in  each  of  them  show,  have  been  nailed  on 
something  else.  These  latter  also  have,  on  a  light-green 
dead  ground,  an  ornamentation,  now  nearly  obliterated,  of 
parallel  bands  of  two  white  lines,  which  cross  each  other  at 


1876.]  SILVER  WINE-FLAGON.  243 

right  angles  and  form  small  squares.  At  the  lower  end  of 
the  front  piece  of  both  are  represented  tassels  in  very  low 
relief,  which  are  painted  black.  Both  these  objects  can  be 
nothing  else  than  ornaments,  but  the  question  is  how  they 
have  been  used  as  such. 


No.  j5j.    A  Silver  Flagon  (otfoxoig).    Sepulchre  IV.    Nearly  h«lf  riffl 


The  silver  flagon,  or  (vnocho'c  (No.  353),  has  a  long 
vertical  handle  and  a  beautiful  form,  but  no  ornamenta- 
tion, at  least  none  that  is  visible  ;  but  there  may  be  some 
in  repoussS  below  the  dirt  with  which  the  vessel  is  covered. 
There  were  further  found  three  shoulder-belts  (Teka[xu>ve<;) 
of  gold,  of  which  I  represent  one.  Of  the  other  two,  the 
one  is  a  broad  but  thin  band,  without  any  ornamentation, 
and  it  appears  to  have  been  expressly  made  for  the  funeral, 


244 


THE  FOURTH  SEPULCHRE. 


[Chap.  VIII. 


for  it  is  not  solid  enough  to  have  been  used  by  living  men  ; 
its  length  is  42  ft.,  its  breadth  is  2  in.  to  i\  in. 

The  golden  shoulder-belt  here  shown  (No.  354)  is 
much  thicker  and  more  solid  ;  it  is  4  ft.  \\  in.  long  and 
\\  in.  broad,  and  has  on  either  side  a  small  border  pro- 
duced by  the  turning  down  of  the  gold  plate,  and  is  orna- 
mented with  an  uninterrupted  row  of  rosettes.  At  one 
extremity  are  two  apertures  in  the  form  of  keyholes,  which 
served  to  fasten  the  clasp  which  was  attached  to  the  other 


No.  354.    Gold  Model  of  a  shoulder  belt  (Ttkn^mv).    Sepulchre  IV.    Size  3 :  16,  about. 


extremity,  as  is  shown  by  two  small  cuts  and  a  small  hole. 
The  third  golden  shoulder-belt  presents  exactly  the  same 
model  and  ornamentation,  as  well  as  the  same  keyhole-like 
apertures  at  one  end,  and  cuts  where  the  clasps  were 
fastened  at  the  other  extremity ;  only  this  one  has  suffered 
much  from  the  fire,  and  therefore  the  ornamentation  is  less 
distinct.  There  were  further  found  in  the  same  tomb 
fourteen  objects  of  very  pure  rock  crystal,  but  their  use  is 
unknown ;  also  a  thin  disc  of  alabaster,  which  must  have 
been  the  bottom  of  a  vase. 


1876.] 


AMBER  BEADS. 


245 


At  the  left  side  of  the  head  of  the  middle  body  of  the 
three  which  lay  with  the  heads  turned  to  the  east,  I  found 
a  heap  of  more  than  400  large  and  small  beads  of  amber, 
of  which  I  represent  eight  (No.  355).  About  the  same 
number  of  similar  amber  beads  were  found  with  one  of  the 
bodies  the  head  of  which  lay  to  the  north.  All  these  amber 
beads  had,  no  doubt,  been  strung  on  thread  in  the  form  of 
necklaces,  and  their  presence  in  the  tombs  among  such 


No.  355.    Amber  Nccklacc-bcad;..    Sepulchre  IV.    Actual  *uc. 


large  treasures  of  golden  ornaments  seems  to  prove  that 
amber  was  very  precious  and  was  considered  as  a  mag- 
nificent ornament  in  the  time  of  the  early  Mycenean  kings. 

Among  the  finest  objects  found  in  this  tomb  were  a  vase 
and  three  handles  of  alabaster,  which  are  put  together  in 
the  engraving  (No.  356).  Each  of  the  handles  has  two  or 
three  perforations  by  which  they  were  attached  to  the  vase, 
on  which  similar  perforations  are  found.  But,  judging  by 
the  smallness  of  the  perforations,  which  are  only  large 


246 


THE  FOURTH  SEPULCHRE.  [Chap.  VIII. 


enough  for  slight  pins,  the  fragility  of  the  elaborate  handles, 
and  the  heaviness  of  the  vase  itself,  we  become  convinced 
that  it  can  never  have  been  used  for  anything  else  than  an 
ornament,  and  that  it  can  never  even  have  been  lifted  up 
by  the  handles. 

There  were  further  found  four  golden  diadems,  two 


No.  356.    A  large  three-handled  Vase  of  Alabaster.    Re-composed  from  the  Fragments 
Sepulchre  IV.  Hall-size. 


large  and  two  small  ones,  similar  to  those  already  repre- 
sented.* The  larger  one  is  1  ft.  8i  in.  long  and  4  in. 
broad  in  the  middle.  Between  two  borders  of  zigzag  lines 
it  has  an  ornamentation  of  shield-like  double  circles  in 
repoussd  work,  the  space  between  them  being  on  either 


*  See  Nos.  282,  283,  284,  pp.  186,  188. 


1 876. J  CURIOUS  GOLDEN  DIADEMS.  247 

side  filled  up  by  small  circles  of  the  same  pattern,  whilst 
both  extremities  are  covered  with  a  beautiful  spiral  orna- 
mentation. At  the  one  end  is  a  pin  (infiokov)  and  at  the 
other  a  small  tube  (avAicr/cos),  by  which  the  diadem  was 
fastened  round  the  head.  The  smaller  diadems  are  only 
1  ft.  5^  in.  long,  and  2  J  in.  broad  in  the  middle,  and  appear 
to  have  adorned  a  child's  forehead.  Their  ornamentation 
in  repoussd  work  is  most  varied  and  curious.  Between  two 
borders,  each  of  two  lines,  we  see  in  the  middle  a  circle 
surrounded  by  thirteen  small  ones,  on  either  side  of  which 
follow  two  vertical  bands  filled  with  small  horizontal 
strokes  j  next  a  vertical  row  of  three  circles,  and  again  two 
vertical  bands  filled  with  horizontal  strokes;  after  that  a 
vertical  band  of  spirals,  and  two  concentric  circles,  sur- 
rounded by  smaller  ones  of  the  same  shape  ;  then  again 
a  vertical  band  filled  with  horizontal  strokes  ;  and,  lastly, 
two  vertical  bands  of  concentric  circles,  between  which  a 
horizontal  band  with  oblique  strokes  goes  to  the  extremity. 
Only  one  end,  with  a  perforation,  is  preserved.  The  other 
end,  probably,  was  similarly  fashioned,  and  the  diadem 
was  fastened  with  a  fine  gold  wire  round  the  child's  head. 
No  body  of  a  child  was  found,  but  the  number  of  small 
ornaments  which  would  only  fit  a  child  lead  me  to  think 
that  there  has  been  one,  or  even  more  than  one,  in  this 
sepulchre.    None  of  these  diadems  were  piped. 

There  were  further  found  two  golden  diadems  which, 
like  the  former,  are  of  thin  gold  plate,  but  neither  of 
them  is  piped.  Both  are  so  small  that  they  could  onlv 
fit  round  the  heads  of  children;  one  is  1  ft.  4^  in.,  the 
other  1  ft.  \  in.,  long.  The  former  is  ornamented,  between 
two  borders  of  points,  with  five  shield-like  circles  in  the 
middle,  of  which  three  represent  rosettes,  the  other  two  a 
wheel  in  motion.  The  remaining  space  to  the  right  and 
left  is  filled  up  with  small  shield-like  circles,  together  with 
two  larger  ones  representing  again  a  wheel  in  motion,  and 
with  spirals.  The  other  diadem  has,  between  two  borders 
of  concentric  circles,  in  the  middle  a  shield-like  circle 


248 


THE  FOURTH  SEPULCHRE. 


[Chap.  VIII. 


Nos.  357,  358. 
A  Belt  and  "belle  Helene"  of  gold. 
Srpulchre  IV.     Size  J  {one-third  size). 


representing  a  wheel  in  mo- 
tion, and  to  the  right  and 
left  a  similar  circle  repre- 
senting rosettes.  Above  the 
second  circle  from  the  middle 
one,  to  the  right  of  the  spec- 
tator, is  represented  a  bird. 
The  remaining  space  is  filled 
up  with  a  beautiful  and  very 
symmetrical  ornamentation 
of  spirals,  with  two  shield-like 
circles  representing  wheels 
in  motion,  and  again  with 
spirals  or  concentric  circles. 
Both  these  diadems  have  at 
each  end  a  fine  wire  for 
fastening  them  round  the 
head. 

Nos.  357  and  358  repre- 
sent from  the  same  sepulchre 
a  small  beautifully  -  orna- 
mented golden  belt  and  a 
golden  "  belle  Helene,"  that, 
is,  a  fillet  or  frontlet.  Both 
are  of  strong  plate,  but  so 
short  that  they  also  seem  to 
have  been  used  as  ornaments 
for  a  child.  The  belt  is  orna- 
mented with  seven  shield- 
like circles,  representing 
wheels  in  motion  ;  it  has  at 
either  end  a  perforation  for 
fastening  it  with  fine  wires. 

The  "  belle  Helene  "  is 
ornamented  with  rosettes 
and  crosses  of  repoussi 
work  ;  it  has  two  perforations 


1876.  ORNAMENTED  GOLD  RIBBON,  ETC.  249 

in  the  rim,  a  little  way  from  either  end,  from  one  of  which 
is  still  hanging  the  fragment  of  a  very  fine  chain  (a), 
and  a  similar  one  has,  no  doubt,  been  suspended  to  the 
other  perforation.*  Both  the  chains  must  have  been  much 
longer,  and  ornaments  must  have  been  attached  to  them, 
as  to  the  Trojan  diadems, f  which  Mr.  Gladstone  is  right 
in  identifying  with  the  Homeric  "7r\e/cTai  dfaSeoyicu." 
Attached  to  each  extremity  of  this  frontlet  is  a  fine  golden 
wire  for  fastening  it  round  the  head.  I  also  picked  up  in 
this  tomb  a  small  golden  belt-ornament,  a  golden  greave- 
ornament,  two  golden  ribbons,  and  two  golden  leaves,  all 
with  an  ornamentation  in  rcpoussf  work,  such  as  we  have 
repeatedly  passed  in  review,  and  therefore  1  do  not  give 
the  engravings  of  them  here. 

There  were  further  found  with  the  five  bodies  of  the 
fourth  sepulchre  the  following  objects  of  gold :  the 
richly-ornamented  ribbon  (No.  359),  having  at  either  ex- 
tremity five  perforations  for  nailing  or  sewing  it  to  some 
other  object.  The  decoration  forms  two  compartments, 
one  of  which  is  divided  by  a  multitude  of  vertical  lines 
into  a  number  of  smaller  and  larger  fields.  Three  of  these 
show  a  waving  line,  having  on  either  side  small  strokes  which 
give  it  the  appearance  of  a  feather.  In  the  other  com- 
partment, between  two  borders,  each  composed  of  three  or 
four  horizontal  lines,  are  two  rows  of  beautiful  spirals  and 
two  straps  ornamented  with  small  oblique  strokes.  The 
two  objects,  Nos.  360  and  361,  are  heavy  massive  golden 
pins,  which  may  equally  well  have  served  as  breast-pins  or 
as  hair-pins,  because  Homer's  countrymen,  the  Axhseans, 
wore  very  long  hair,  and  were  therefore  called  KaprjKo- 
fjuoovTes  *A\aiot  by  the  poet.  The  heads  of  both  these 
brooches  have  almost  the  shape  of  helmets,  and  each  of 


*  The  Cut  has  to  be  viewed  with  the  outer  edge  of  the  page 
downwards. 

t  See  'Troy  and  its  Remains,'  p.  335,  Plate  XIX. 


32 


250  THE  FOURTH  SEPULCHRE.  [Chap.  VIII. 

them  has  a  vertical  perforation,  which  may  have  been  used 
for  putting  in  an  additional  ornament,  or  perhaps  a 
flower.  Both  these  brooches  appear  to  be  much  worn. 
Much  thinner  is  the  third  golden  pin  (No.  362),  which 


361 


iNios.  359-305     \  arious ornaments  of  Gold.    Sepulchre  IV.    Actual  size. 


is  ornamented  with  an  admirably-represented  ram  with 
long  horns. 

The  rings  (Nos.  363  and  364)  are  also  of  gold  ;  the 
former,  which  is  massive  and  has  no  ornamentation,  seems 
to  have  been  a  finger-ring ;  the  latter  is  a  small  ornamented 


1876.J  ORNAMENTED  GOLD  CYLINDER.  25 1 

ribbon,  which  was  turned  round  and  fastened  in  the  form 
of  a  ring,  and  may  have  been  used  as  an  earring,  similar  to 
which  there  were  found  two. 

No.  365  is  a  lion's  cub ;  it  is  of  massive  gold,  very 
heavy,  and  I  share  Mr.  Newton's  opinion  that  it  is  cast  and 
tooled. 

The  golden  cylinder  (No.  366)  belonged  no  doubt, 
to  the  wooden  handle  of  a  sword  or  sceptre,  because  we  see 
all  along  its  middle  part  the  row  of  pin-holes,  and  even 


No.  366.    Highly  decorated  Golden  Cylinder,  probably  the  handle  ol  a  sword  or  sceptre. 
Sepulchre  IV.    Size  4  :  5. 

four  flat  heads  of  pins,  and  in  the  centre  the  head  or  a 
very  large  pin,  by  which  it  was  attached.  It  is  ornamented 
at  both  ends  with  a  broad  border  of  wave-lines,  and  the 
whole  remaining  space  is  filled  with  interwoven  spirals,  all 
in  magnificent  intaglio  work. 

There  was  also  found  an  ornament  consisting  of  three 
double  leaves  of  gold,  which  are  soldered  together  in  the 
middle,  representing  a  magnificent  star,  ornamented  all 
over  with  shield-like  concentric  circles  of  repoussd  work. 


1$1  THE  FOURTH  SEPULCHRE.  [Chap.  VIII. 

The  primitive  artist  has  not  forgotten  to  ornament  the 
borders  with  small  strokes,  no  doubt  with  the  intention 
of  making  the  leaves  still  more  conspicuous.  There  were 
found  two  other  stars,  each  of  two  double  leaves  of  gold, 
which  are  soldered  together  in  the  middle,  and,  as  the 
perforation  shows,  were  fastened  by  a  pin  on  some  other 
object.  The  leaves  of  both  stars  are  ornamented  with 
a  reponssi  work  of  shield-like  concentric  circles,  inter- 
spersed with  pear -like  designs ;  the  borders  of  the  leaves 
are  also  ornamented  with  small  strokes.  In  what  manner 
all  these  stars  have  been  used  as  ornaments,  it  is  difficult 
to  say. 

I  further  found  with  the  five  bodies  of  this  tomb  two 
small  rings  (see  No.  367),  which  have  an  impressed  ornamen- 
tation of  small  circles.  There  were  further  found  two  small 
double-headed  battle-axes,  of  thin  gold  plate  (No.  368). 
Of  the  handle  of  the  one  shown,  only  part  remains ;  that  of 
the  other  is  almost  entirely  gone.  Double-headed  battle- 
axes  of  precisely  the  same  form  are  seen  on  all  the  medals 
of  the  island  of  Tenedos ;  we  see  them  also  on  some  of 
the  gold  ornaments  from  Mycenae,  on  a  lentoid  gem  from 
the  great  Herasum,  which  will  be  passed  in  review  in  the 
subsequent  pages,  and  between  the  horns  of  the  two  small 
cow-heads  on  gold-leaf  found  in  this  sepulchre.*  Mr. 
Postolaccas  calls  my  attention  to  the  passage  in  Plutarch  :  \ 
"  But  the  Tenedians  have  taken  the  axe  from  the  crabs, 
which  are  with  them  abundant  about  the  so-called 
Asterion,  because  it  appears  that  the  crabs  alone  have  the 
figure  of  the  axe  in  their  shell."  The  same  friend  reminds 
me,  besides,  that  the  double  battle-axe  is  the  symbol  of  the 
Labrandian  Jove,  who  was  worshipped  in  Labranda,  and  it 
is  represented  on  the  medals  of  the  ancient  kings  of  Caria, 
as  on  those  of  Maussollus^  (353  B.C.),  Idrieus  (344  B.C.), 

*  See  Nos.  329-330,  p.  218. 

t  De  Pythice  Oraculis ;  Op.  Moral,  ed.  Didot,  vol.  L  p.  488. 
%  This  name  is  always  MauWoAAos  on  the  coins. 


1876]  SYMBOL  OF  THE  DOUBLE  AXE.  2,53 

Pixodarus  (336  b.c.)  and  Othomtopatos  (334  b.c.)  I  also 
find  in  Plutarch*  that  the  axe,  7reXe/cu5,  was  called  in  the 
Lydian  language  kdfipvs. 


367  36q 


Nos.  3O7-370.    Golden  Ornament;..    Sepulchre  IV.    Siie  a  :  3. 


Professor  A.  Rhousopoulos  writes  to  me  on  this  sub- 
ject :  "  I  suppose  the  double-edged  axe  on  the  coins  ot 
"  Tenedos  to  be  a  sacrificial  or  a  warlike  symbol.  I  believe 
"  this  from  analogy  with  other  coins  of  a  superior  class. 


*  Quasi.  Grcec.  p.  45. 


254 


THE  FOURTH  SEPULCHRE.  [Chap.  VIII. 


"  There  was  a  proverb  in  ancient  Greece,  Tei/e'Sios  treXeKvs, 
" '  Tenedian  axe,'  for  those  who  resolve  questions  in  a 
"  harsh  or  in  a  rather  short  way.  The  Tenedian  Apollo 
"  held  in  his  hand  the  double  axe,  namely,  that  which  is 
"  represented  on  the  coins  of  Tenedos ;  but  the  interpreta- 
"  tion  of  this  symbol  in  antiquity  was  twofold.  Some 
"  regarded  it  as  the  symbol  of  Tennes,  others  (and  so 
'  Aristotle)  maintained  that  a  certain  king  of  Tenedos 
"  made  a  law,  that  he  who  surprised  an  adulterer  and  adul- 
"  teress  had  to  kill  both  with  an  axe.  Now,  it  happened 
"  that  his  own  son  was  surprised  as  an  adulterer,  and  the 
"  father  decreed  that  the  boy  should  be  punished  according 
"  to  the  common  law.  In  consequence  of  this  event,  the 
"  double  axe  was  put  on  the  medals  of  Tenedos,  in  memory 
"  of  the  prince's  tragic  fate."  However,  as  to  the  significa- 
tion of  this  symbol  in  the  remote  antiquity  to  which  the 
Mycenean  tombs  belong,  I  do  not  venture  to  express  an 
opinion. 

The  magnificent  golden  object  (No.  369)  resembles  very 
much  the  usual  ornaments  for  fastening  the  greaves  round 
the  thigh,  just  above  the  knee ;  but  it  cannot  have  served 
as  such,  the  gold  plate  being  by  far  too  thick  for  that 
purpose;  besides,  this  ornament  is  perfectly  straight,  and 
has  evidently  never  been  bent.  It  must,  therefore,  be 
something  else.  As  we  see  the  object  before  us,  it  resem- 
bles a  man  such  as  children  draw ;  the  ring  above  the  head 
may  represent  a  crown.  The  splendid  ornament  in  repousse 
work  on  the  body  we  have  seen,  though  less  beautiful,  in 
the  border  of  the  sepulchral  stele  (No.  24).*  The  legs 
show,  between  two  narrow  borders,  rows  of  small  signs 
resembling  the  letter  koppa,  which  we  see  on  all  the 
Corinthian  medals. 

There  were  further  found  three  golden  objects,  of 
which  I  represent  one  under  No.  370.    I  do  not  venture 


*  See  the  Vignette  to  Chapter  III.,  p.  52. 


1876.]  FUNERAL  FORK.  255 

to  give  an  explanation  of  them  ;  they  cannot  have  served 
as  brooches,  the  pin  at  the  foot  being  too  short  and  fragile 
for  that  use.  All  three  have  a  border  all  round,  and  in 
the  middle  a  rosette  formed  by  points. 

There  were  further  found  the  two  objects  of  copper 
here  represented.  For  what  purpose  the  first  (No.  371) 
may  have  been  used,  it  is  difficult  to  say  j  it  has  a  quad- 
rangular hole,  which  cannot,  however,  have  served  to  put 


Nos.  371,  37;.    Objects  of  Copper.    Sepulchre  IV.    Siie  i :  3,  about. 


in  a  handle,  because  the  copper-plate  is  not  thick  enough. 
The  second  object  is  a  large  fork,  with  three  curved 
prongs,  and  a  tube  into  which  the  wooden  handle  was 
stuck ;  this  fork  has  evidently  served  to  rake  the  fire  of  the 
funeral  piles. 

There  were  also  found  in  this  tomb  the  objects  shown 
in  the  following  cut.  Nos.  373  and  374  are  of  bone  and 
have  the  same  shape.  Both  have  on  one  side  a  carved 
ornamentation  of  spirals,  a  border,  and  two  or  three  con- 


256 


THE  FOURTH  SEPULCHRE. 


[Chap.  VIII. 


centric  circles,  and  two  perforations ;  in  the  centre  there 
seems  to  have  been  a  knob,  which  is  broken  off.  On  the 
reverse  side,  in  the  border,  are  three  protruding  cones  in 
the  form  of  feet.  I  represent  in  the  engraving  the  upper 
end  of  one  of  these  objects,  and  the  reverse  side  of  the 
other.    The  use  of  them  would  be  almost  impossible  to 


Nos.  373-375.    Two  Bone  Lids  of  Jars  and  a  piece  of  an  Alabaster  Vase.    Sepulchre  IV.    Size  5  :  6. 


explain  had  I  not  found  similar  ones,  but  of  terra-cotta,  and 
with  four  feet  of  conical  shape,  in  Troy,  and  one  of  them 
still  in  situ,  as  a  lid  on  the  mouth  of  a  large  can  or  jar. 
The  two  perforations  served  to  fasten  the  lid  with  a  string 
to  the  jars.*  Four  such  vase-lids  of  bone  were  found  in 
this  tomb. 


*  See  'Atlas  des  Antiquites  Troyennes,'  Plate  21,  Nos.  583  and 
584.  This  explains  how  the  nurse  Euryclea  fastened  on  the  lids  of  the 
amphorae  for  Telemachus.    (Horn.  Odyss.  ii.  354)  : — 

AwSiKa  5'  iixnX-qoov,  Kal  irdifiafftu  &p<Joi>  airavras. 


I876.J  STAG  OF  SILVER  AND  LEAD.  257 

No.  375  represents  a  fragment  of  an  alabaster  vase, 
on  which  a  beautiful  ornamentation  is  carved,  displaying, 
between  two  parallel  stripes,  a  row  of  spirals,  and,  below, 
a  row  of  vertical  flutings. 

In  a  copper  vessel  in  the  south-eastern  corner  of  this 
sepulchre  was  found  the  animal  represented  under  No. 
376,  which  Professor  Landerer  has  found  to  consist  of  a 


No.  376.    A  Stag,  of  an  alloy  oi  silver  and  lead.    Sepulchre  IV.    Size  3  :  7,  about. 


mixture  of  two-thirds  silver  and  one-third  lead.  It  is 
hollow,  and  seems  to  have  served  as  a  vase,  the  mouth- 
piece, in  the  form  of  a  funnel,  being  on  the  back.  The 
whole  body  of  the  animal  is  very  coarse  and  heavy,  parti- 
cularly the  feet,  which  resemble  the  feet  of  a  buffalo,  but 
the  head  resembles  a  cow's-head.  As,  however,  the  head  is 
crowned  with  two  stag-horns,  of  which  one  is  preserved, 
there  can  be  no  doubt  that  the  artist  intended  to  represent 
a  stag.  He  may  be  excused  for  having  made  the  animal 
so  coarse,  because  had  he  given  exactly  the  form  of  a 
stag,  the  vase  he  intended  to  make  would  have  been  too 


33 


N°s-  377-381. 


Buttons  of  Wood,  covered  with  plates  of  gold,  highly  ornamented.    Sepulchre  IV. 
Actual  size. 


Nos.  382.38c .    Buttons  of  Wood,  covered  with  plates  of  gold,  highly  ornamented.    Sepulchre  IV. 

Actual  size. 


i6o 


THE  FOURTH  SEPULCHRE. 


[Chap.  VIII. 


fragile.  Vases  of  terra-cotta  in  the  form  of  animals  were 
frequent  at  Troy.* 

There  were  further  found  with  the  five  bodies  of  the 
fourth  sepulchre  twelve  buttons  of  wood,  in  the  form  of 
crosses,  plated  with  gold,  which  present  a  most  magnifi- 
cent ornamentation  of  intaglio  and  repousse"  work  (see  Nos. 
3 7 7-3 8 6). f,.  The  largest  of  them  (No.  377)  is  a  little 
more  than  3^  in.  in  length  and  is  2-^  in.  broad.  The  most 
curious  thing  is,  that  all  the  wooden  buttons  present  exactly 
the  same  beautiful  ornamentation  as  the  gold  plate  which 
covers  them,  as  can  be  seen  on  the  aforesaid  large  button 
in  the  place  where  part  of  the  gold  plate  is  missing.  The 
question,  therefore,  naturally  arises,  in  what  manner  this 
effect  can  have  been  produced.  On  mature  reflection,  we 
arrive  at  the  conviction  that  it  cannot  possibly  have  been 
done  in  any  other  way  than  the  following.  The  pieces 
of  wood  were  first  shaped,  and  on  them  was  carefully  and 
artistically  carved  in  low-relief  all  the  ornamentation  which 
we  now  see  on  the  gold  plate  in  repousse"  work.  After 
that,  the  wooden  buttons  were  covered  with  the  gold  plate, 
which,  having  been  well  attached  on  the  reverse  side,  was 
hammered  on  the  buttons,  and  in  this  manner  the  low- 
relief  ornamentation  of  the  wood  was  reproduced  in  the 
gold  plate.  When  this  had  been  done,  the  intaglio  work 
was  made  in  the  gold  plate,  which  being  very  thin,  all 
the  cuts  were  at  once  impressed  as  deeply  into  the  wood 
as  into  the  gold.  1  think  this  is  the  only  way  to  explain 
this  wonderful  work. 

The  form  of  all  these  cross  buttons  is  that  of  a  lozenge ; 
nine  of  them  being  ornamented  at  each  acute,  as  well  as 
at  each  obtuse  angle,  with  two  protruding  globular  pieces, 
each  of  which  has  four  concentric  circles  in  intaglio. 
Only  two  of  the  cross  buttons  (Nos.  382  and  384)  have 


*  See  'Troy  and  its  Remains,'  pp.  160,  208,  209,  214,  352. 
t  The  two  remaining  buttons  have  similar  patterns. 


WONDERFUL  CROSS  BUTTONS. 


261 


on  each  acute  angle  three  such  protruding  globular  pieces, 
and  one  (No.  380)  has  three  of  them  at  all  four  corners. 
The  button  (No.  378)  has,  in  its  interior  lozenge,  a  broad 
border,  adorned  with  thirty-two  beautiful  little  crosses,  each 
of  which  has  a  point  in  the  centre,  and  within  this  bor- 
der, two  spirals  in  the  form  of  an  Omega,  which  stand 
opposite  each  other,  and  are  crowned  with  branches, 
apparently,  of  a  date  tree  ;  to  the  right  and  left  are  small 
rosettes.  On  the  large  button  (No.  377),  the  border  of 
the  interior  lozenge  is  filled  all  round  with  small  circles 
in  intaglio,  and  within  we  see  in  the  middle  a  double  circle, 
filled  with  a  spiral  ornamentation,  likewise  in  intaglio,  and 
on  each  side  of  the  circle  a  spiral,  in  the  form  of  an  Omega, 
and  some  smaller  spirals  and  signs,  all  in  repoussi  work. 
No.  379  has  simply  a  border  of  two  lines,  within  which  is 
a  circle  with  a  spiral  ornamentation,  and  in  each  acute 
angle  a  spiral  in  the  form  of  an  Omega.  On  this  button 
only  the  last-named  spiral  is  repousse",  the  rest  is  intaglio. 
Still  more  simple  is  the  ornamentation  of  No.  381,  in 
which  the  border  consists  also  of  two  lines,  and  the 
internal  space  is  filled  by  two  signs  in  form  of  Omegas, 
and  by  four  small  flowers,  which  latter  alone  appear  to  be 
repousst,  the  rest  intaglio  work.  The  button  (No.  380) 
has  no  border;  the  whole  space  is  filled  by  concentric 
circles  in  intaglio,  with  only  two  or  three  small  orna- 
ments in  repoussi. 

On  the  other  hand,  on  the  button  (No.  382)  all  the 
ornamentation  is  produced  by  repoussi  work  :  even  to  the 
border  line  of  the  interior  lozenge,  within  which  we  see 
a  circle  filled  with  small  ones,  and  above  and  below  it  a 
curious  sign,  which  is  very  frequent  on  the  Trojan  whorls. 
On  the  large  button  (No.  383)  we  again  see  a  border  filled 
with  twenty-eight  crosses,  and  in  the  interior  lozenge,  in 
the  middle,  a  double  circle,  a  frfr1  with  curved  arms,  in  each 
of  which,  as  well  as  in  the  centre,  is  a  point  to  mark  the 
nails  by  which  the  two  pieces  of  wood  for  the  production 


262 


THE  FOURTH  SEPULCHRE. 


[Chap.  VIII. 


of  the  sacred  fire  were  fastened.  The  two  acute  angles  are 
here  again  filled  up  with  the  same  sign  which  we  noticed 
on  the  preceding  figure.  The  border  with  the  crosses  is  of 
repousst  work  ;  the  circle,  with  the  j^,  of  intaglio. 

In  the  figure  No.  384,  the  border  of  the  interior  lozenge 
is  ornamented  with  horizontal  strokes ;  in  the  interior  we 
see,  in  the  middle,  two  spirals  like  Omegas,  standing  opposite 
each  other,  and  in  each  acute  angle  a  small  ornament, 
perhaps  a  flower  ;  the  latter  and  the  border  are  here  the  only 
work  in  repoussd,  the  remainder  being  intaglio.  The  button 
(No.  386)  has  an  identical  ornamentation  of  two  spirals  which 
stand  opposite  each  other,  and  resemble  Omegas.  Finally, 
the  large  button  (No.  385)  has  a  broad  border  filled  with 
twenty-eight  small  circles  in  repoussd  work,  and  of  the  same 
work  is  also  the  small  encircled  cross  *in  each  acute  angle, 
whilst  the  large  circle  with  the  j^J  in  the  centre  is  of 
intaglio  work.  On  the  reverse  side,  the  wood  of  all  these 
twelve  cross-like  buttons  is  carved  much  like  our  shirt- 
studs,  with  the  sole  difference  that  the  lower  side  is  here 
of  an  oval  form.  Thus,  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  all 
of  them  were  used  as  ornaments  on  the  clothes,  but,  of 
course,  they  can  never  have  served  as  real  buttons.  All 
these  buttons  show  unmistakeable  marks  of  the  funeral 
fire,  but  as  the  wood  has  been  preserved,  there  can  be  no 
doubt  that  the  fire  was  not  intended  to  reduce  the  bodies 
to  ashes,  or  to  destroy  the  ornaments  with  which  they 
were  laden. 

There  were  further  found  with  the  five  bodies  of  the 
fourth  tomb  110  small  golden  flowers,  in  the  shape  of 
the  four  represented  under  Nos.  387-390,  and  68  gold 
buttons  without  any  ornamentation  like  Nos.  391  and 
392 ;  134  round  pieces  of  gold  plate  with  a  border, 
like  Nos.  395  and  396  ;  and  98  large  shield-like  pieces  of 
gold  plate  in  repoussd  work,  with  two  rope-like  borders, 
like  No.  402  (p.  264).  Not  one  of  these  410  round  pieces 
of  gold  plate  shows  any  sign  of  having  been  fastened  on 


1876.]  CURIOUS  GOLD  BUTTONS.  263 

wooden  buttons,  and  we  conclude  from  this  that  they 
must  have  been  merely  attached  with  glue  to  the  clothes 
and  drapery  of  the  deceased. 

In  the  same  place  were  found  1 1 8  gold  buttons  with 
intaglio  work  of  seventeen  different  types  of  ornamentation 
which  are  represented  in  the  specimens  shown  under  Nos. 
393-401  and  Nos.  403-413.  All  of  them  consist  of  gold 
plate,  fastened  either  on  wood  buttons  like  our  shirt-studs, 


Nos.  387-401.    Plates  of  Gold.    Sepulchre  IV.    Actual  site. 


or  merely  on  flat  round  pieces  of  wood  ;  but  of  a  large  part 
of  them  the  wooden  button  has  disappeared,  and  only  the 
gold  plate  remains.  I  need  not  describe  the  ornamen- 
tation of  every  one  of  these  buttons,  because  the  reader 
sees  what  they  represent.  I  would  here  only  call  attention 
to  the  beautiful  intaglio  on  the  button,  No.  397,  which 


264  THE  FOURTH  SEPULCHRE.  [Chap.  VIII. 

represents  four  long  broad  knives,  whose  handles  are  pro- 
longed into  spirals. 


410  411  412  413 


Nos.  402-413.    Gold  Buttons.    Sepulchre  IV.    Actual  size. 

I  further  found  there  130  large  gold  buttons  with 
splendid  intaglio  work,  some  like  Nos.  414-420,  which  re- 
present beautiful  stars,  flowers,  or  crosses,  and  others  like 
No.  421,  which  has  a  beautiful  spiral  ornamentation.  As 
with  the  smaller  buttons,  many  of  these  130  buttons  have 
still  retained  their  wooden  button,  shaped  like  a  shirt-stud  ; 
while  many  others  have  only  flat  pieces  of  wood,  and  of  a 
great  many  others  the  wood  has  disappeared  and  the  gold 
plate  alone  remains. 

Finally  I  found  eight  gold  buttons  of  very  large  size, 
with  beautiful  intaglio  work,  of  two  of  which  I  give  the 
engravings  (Nos.  422  and  422a).    The  former  represents 


MAGNIFICENT  GOLD  BUTTONS. 


265 


266 


THE  FOURTH  SEPULCHRE. 


[Chap.  VIII. 


a  sun,  in  the  centre  of  which  is  a  beautiful  ^  trans- 
formed into  spirals,  without,  however,  losing  the  marks  of 
nails  with  which  it  was  fastened.  The  other  represents  also 
a  sun  with  his  rays,  in  the  interior  of  which  is  the  spiral 
ornamentation  which  we  have  so  often  passed  in  review. 

All  these  eight  very  large  buttons  have  merely  flat  pieces 
of  wood ;  and,  as  I  sometimes  find  rows  of  buttons  so 
shaped,  and  which  gradually  diminish  in  size,  lying  along  the 
swords,  I  feel  certain  that  they  were  glued  in  uninterrupted 
rows  to  the  wooden  sheaths  of  these  weapons,  the  largest 
button  being  fixed  where  the  sword  was  broadest  and  the 
rest  gradually  diminishing  in  size  according  to  the  breadth 
of  the  sword-sheath.*  It  also  deserves  particular  attention 
that,  wherever  the  gold  buttons  have  retained  their  pieces 
of  wood,  whether  flat  or  shirt-stud-like,  these  wooden 
moulds  have,  without  any  exception,  exactly  the  same 
intaglio  ornamentation  which  we  see  on  the  gold  plating  ; 
and  there  can,  therefore,  be  no  doubt  whatever  that  all  the 
intaglio  work  was  made  on  the  gold  plate  after  it  had  been 
fastened  on  the  wooden  buttons,  on  which  the  intaglio 
made  on  the  gold  plate  was  reproduced  by  the  pressure 
of  the  artist's  hand. 

The  whole  immense  sepulchre  was  strewn  with  small 
gold  leaves,  of  which  I  collected  about  200  grammes,  or 
more  than  half  a  pound  troy.  I  found  them  in  masses 
even  below  the  bodies,  and  I  have,  therefore,  no  doubt 
that  they  were  spread  in  the  tomb  before  the  funeral  piles 
were  dressed  there.  I  also  collected  from  this  sepulchre 
two  silver  goblets,  two  silver  bowls,  ten  silver  vases,  which 
latter  are  all  broken,  and  finally  three  large  silver  vessels 
and  a  small  one,  which  are  plated  with  copper,  and  are 
very  flat.  I  presume,  therefore,  that  they  have  been  used 
as  basins  or  as  a  kind  of  saucers  for  large  silver  vases.  I 
further  found  a  wooden  comb,  with  a  large  curved  golden 


See  the  engraving,  No.  460,  on  p.  303. 


1876.]  GOLD  MODEL  OF  A  TEMPLE.  267 

handle,  which  has  evidently  served  for  the  forehead,  to  hold 
back  the  hair. 

Perhaps  the  most  curious  objects  of  all  are  three  small 
edifices  of  gold  in  repoussd  work,  of  which  I  represent  one 


No.  433.    Model  of  a  Temple,  in  Gold.    Sepulchre  IV.    Actual  m'c 


(No.  423).  They  are  too  small  for  dwelling-houses,  and  I 
suppose,  therefore,  that  they  were  intended  to  represent  small 
temples  or  sanctuaries.  In  this  belief  I  am  strengthened, 
alike  by  the  four  horns  on  the  top,  by  the  pigeons  with 
uplifted  wings  which  are  sitting  at  either  side,  and  by 
the  column  with  a  capital,  which  is  represented  in  every 
one  of  the  three  door-like  niches.  I  call  the  reader's 
particular  attention  to  the  similarity  of  these  columns  to 
the  column  represented  between  the  two  lions  above  the 
Lions'  Gate.  It  is  also  deserving  of  special  notice  that 
the  slanting  lines  to  the  right  and  left  of  the  columns 
give  to  these  niches  a  striking  resemblance  with  the 
tombs  and  their  slanting  walls.  Below  the  three  niches  we 
see  distinctly  indicated  four  courses  of  masonry  of  large 
wrought  stones.  Of  capital  interest  is  the  tower-like  upper 
part  of  the  building,  which  appears  to  represent  a  wooden 


268 


THE  FOURTH  SEPULCHRE. 


[Chap.  VIII. 


structure,  and  in  the  middle  of  which  are  three  curious 
signs  resembling  letters.  I  would  remind  the  reader  of 
the  coins  of  Paphos,  on  which  is  represented  a  temple 
of  Aphrodite,  with  a  pigeon  sitting  on  each  gable-end. 

I  also  collected  from  the  tomb  not  less  than  fifty- 
three  golden  cuttle-fish  (sepias),  of  which  I  represent  one 

(No.  424).  All 
these  fifty  -  three 
sepias  are  perfectly 
alike,  and  have  a 
curious  ornamenta- 
tion in  relief  re- 
presenting spirals ; 
all  their  arms  are 
likewise  curved  into 
spiral  forms.  It  is 
difficult  to  say  how 
these  sepias  may 
have  been  used  as  ornaments ;  probably  they  were  fastened 
on  clothes  and  drapery  ;  all  appear  to  have  been  cast  in 
the  same  mould,  otherwise  their  perfect  resemblance  is 
inexplicable. 

There  were  further  found  two  objects  of  thick  gold 


No.  424.    A  Cuttle-fish  in  Gold.    Sepulchre  IV. 
Actual  size. 


Nos.  425,  426.    The  two  halves  of  a  whorl-shaped  object  ot  thick  Gold  Plate.    Sepulchre  IV. 

Actual  size. 


plate  in  the  form  of  tops,  each  consisting  of  two  halves ; 
their  use  is  altogether  inexplicable  to  me. 


GOLD  S WORD-HANDLE  KNOBS. 


269 


No.  427.    Guld  Cover  ot  the  Knob  of  a  Sword-handle.    Sepulchre  IV.    Actual  size. 

I  further  found  there  ten  golden  plates,  with  beautiful 
intaglio  ornamentation,  intended  to  cover  the  wooden  or 
alabaster  knobs  of  sword  -  handles,  of  which  I  represent 
eight   (Nos.  427-434).     On  No.  427  is  represented  a 


No.  428.    Gold  Cover  of  the  K.nob  of  I  Sword-handle.    Sepulchre  IV.    Actual  size. 


270 


THE  FOURTH  SEPULCHRE. 


[Chap.  VIII. 


lion;  No.  428  is  profusely  covered  with  a  magnificent 
intaglio  ornamentation,  and  there  is  no  space  as  large  as  a 
quarter  of  an  inch  vacant.  In  the  centre  we  see  a  double 
circle  containing  the  beautiful  spiral  which  often  occurs 
at  Mycenae,  but    here    represented  with  sextuple  lines. 

Around  this  circle  is  another ;  the 
space  between  the  two  being  filled 
up  with  miniature  circles.  Then 
follows  a  circle  of  a  beautiful  spiral 
ornamentation ;  after  that,  a  circle 
filled  with  small  separate  spirals ; 
then  a  border  of  three  lines,  and 
another  circle  with  curious  spirals ; 
then  again  a  circular  band  of  three 
lines,  and  after  that  a  broad  circle 
of  spirals.  The  golden  object  (No.  429)  evidently 
belongs  to  the  upper  part  of  the  hilt.  The  golden  plate 
(No.  430)  has  evidently  also  covered  the  knob  of  a  sword- 
handle,  and  we  see  in  it  the  round  holes  of  the  gold 


No.  429. 
Gold  Cover  of  a  Sword-handle: 
Sepulchre  IV.    Actual  size. 


No.  430.    Gold  Cover  of  the  Knob  of  a  Sword-handle.    Sepulchre  IV.    Actual  size. 


nails  with  which  it  was  fastened ;  it  is  ornamented  with 
intaglio  work  representing  beautiful  spirals. 

Not  less  sumptuous  are  the  golden  covers  of  sword- 


1876.]  GOLDEN  SWORD-HANDLE  KNOBS.  27 1 

handle  knobs  (Nos.  431,  432),  the  former  being  ornamented 
in  intaglio  work  with  a  number  of  concentric  circles  and 
spirals ;  the  latter  also  in  intaglio  work,  with  a  border  of 
small  beautiful  spirals  and  several  concentric  circles,  the 
innermost  of  which  has  a  border  of  spirals  in  the  shape 
of  fish,  the  internal  space  being  filled  with  ornaments  in 
the  form  of  horse-shoes.     In  a  similar  way  the  two  golden 


Nos.  431-434.    Gold  Covers  of  the  knobs  of  Sword-handles.    Sepulchre  IV.  Actual: 


objects,  Nos.  433  and  434,  have  served  as  covers  of 
sword-handle  knobs  ;  the  former  being  ornamented  with  a 
double  band  in  the  form  of  ropes,  the  latter  with  vertical 
flutings. 

There  were  further  found  in  this  tomb,  in  a  heap 
together,  thirty-five  arrow-heads  of  obsidian,  which  were 
probably  mounted  on  wooden  shafts  and  contained  in  a 
wooden  quiver  which  has  disappeared.    I  represent  under 


272 


THE  FOURTH  SEPULCHRE. 


[Chap.  VIII. 


No.  435  the  fifteen  different  types  of  these  arrow-heads. 
Nothing  could  give  a  better  idea  of  the  great  antiquity  of 
these  tombs  than  these  stone  arrow-heads,  for  the  Iliad 
seems  to  know  only  arrow-heads  of  bronze.*  Probably 


No.  435.    Arrow-heads  of  Obsidian.    Sepulchre  IV.    Size  7  :  8,  about. 


there  had  also  been  bows  deposited  in  the  tomb ;  but,  being 
of  wood,  like  the  quivers  and  arrow-shafts,  they  would 
have  decayed. 

There  were  further  found  here  sixty  boars'-teeth ;  of 
all  which  the  reverse  side  is  cut  perfectly  flat,  and  has  two 
borings,  which  must  have  served  to  fasten  them  on  another 


*  See,  for  example,  f/iadXIll.  650  and  662. 


1876.]  BOARS'-TEETH  AS  ORNAMENTS.  273 

object,  perhaps  on  horse-trappings.  But  we  see  in  the 
Iliad*  that  they  were  also  used  on  helmets,  either  as  a 
protection  or  as  an  ornament. 

I  found  there  also  a  large  quantity  of  flat  quadrangular 
pieces  cut  out  of  boars'  teeth.  They  are  from  1  to  2  inches 
long  and  from  i  in.  to  3  in.  broad ;  and  they  have  two 
perforations,  one  at  each  extremity,  by  which  they  were 
attached  to  other  objects,  most  probably  to  horse-trappings. f 
I  also  found  a  piece  of  bone,  flat  and  almost  circular,  with 
a  round  hole  in  the  centre,  and  with  six  small  perforations ; 
its  use  is  unknown  to  us. 

I  also  found  there  two  large  copper  handles  with 
unequivocal  marks  that  they  had  once  been  plated  with 
gold,  and  thus  it  is  probable  that  they  belong  to  a  large 
silver  vase. 

Besides  the  five  large  copper  vessels  found  (as  I  have 
already  said)  at  the  southern  end  of  the  sepulchre,  I  found 


•  X.  261-265. 

.  .   .   afMpl  S(  ol  KVVfT)V  Kt<pakrjtpiv  tdj)KtV, 
pivov  iroiT)T^)i/  "  no\iaiv  J'  (vto<t6(v  i/xuiriy 
ivriraro  artptwf  (xToaOt  Si  \(vko\  6S6vrtt 
ipyt6Sovroi  iibs  >'.>....  *  ?x0"  btti  Kai  tv0a 
c6  »cal  imaTaixivws. 

"  And  on  his  brows  a  leathern  headpiece  placed 
Well  wrought  within,  with  numerous  straps  secured, 
And  on  the  outside,  with  wild  hoar's  gleaming  tusks 
Profusely  garnished,  scattered  here  and  there 
By  skilful  hand."  Lord  Derby. 

t  These  ornaments  of  horse-trappings  vividly  remind  us  of  the 
famous  passage  in  the  Iliad  IV.,  141  : 

is  8'  St(  Tir  r*  i\t<pavTa  yvvij  ipoiviKt  nirivy 
MyovU  rjf  Kacipa  iraprjiof  C/iud  ai  'in-woiv  ' 
Keirai  ft'  iv  Oa\du(f,  iroAf'f  j  r4  fiiv  rjpijaavTo 
iinrrjts  AoolflP  '  f3a<n\rii  Si  Ktijat  fryaK/ia, 
aiitpoTtpov,  k6<t/j.os  6'  '(ww<p,  eAor^pi  -rt  kvSos  ' 

"  As  when  some  Carian  or  M.xonian  maid 
With  crimson  dye  the  ivory  stains,  designed 
To  be  the  check -piece  of  a  warrior's  steed, 
By  many  a  valiant  horseman  coveted, 
As  in  the  house  it  lies,  a  monarch's  boast, 
The  horse  adorning,  and  the  horseman's  pride." 

Lord  Derby. 


35 


a  74 


THE  FOURTH  SEPULCHRE. 


[Chap.  VIII. 


five  more  at  the  eastern  side,  behind  the  heads  of  the  bodies ; 
further,  ten  on  the  west  side,  at  their  feet,  and  twelve  at 
the  northern  extremity,  towards  which  the  heads  of  two 
of  the  bodies  were  turned.  Thus,  the  sepulchre  contained 
in  all  thirty-two  copper  vessels,  some  of  which,  however, 
were  too  fragmentary  to  be  preserved.  The  chief  types 
of  these  copper  vessels  are  shown  in  the  following  en- 
gravings. 

No.  436  represents  a  large  can,  1  ft.  8  in.  deep,  and 
1  ft.  4  in.  in  diameter  ;  it  has  two  handles,  of  which  the 

one,  which  is  upright, 
unites  the  rim  to  the 
body,  and  the  other, 
which  is  horizontal,  is 
on  the  lower  part  of  the 
can.  Both  handles  are 
fastened  with  large  pins 
to  the  vessel.  Of  this 
type  seven  specimens 
were  found  in  this  tomb. 

No.  437  shows  one 
more  can  of  the  very 
same  form,  but  only  its 
upper  part  can  be  seen, 
because  it  sticks  fast  in 
another  large  copper 
vessel,  and  seems  to 
have  been  welded  to  it 
by  the  funeral  fire.  Of  the  form  of  the  lower  vessel 
seven  specimens  were  found ;  it  has  two  handles  standing 
vertically,  each  of  which  is  attached  to  the  rim  by  four 
large  pins. 

No.  438  represents  a  large  and  deep  vessel,  with  three 
vertical  handles,  which  are  likewise  fastened  to  the  rim  with 
thick  nails ;  of  this  form  also  four  were  found,  besides  two 
specimens  of  a  similar  form  of  vessel,  but  with  only  two 


No.  436. 

A  large  Copper  Vessel.    Sepulchre  IV.    Size  i  :  S. 


2,76 


THE  FOURTH  SEPULCHRE. 


[Chap.  VIII. 


handles.  No.  439  represents  a  large  vessel  with  two  vertical 
handles,  of  which  eight  or  nine  specimens  were  found. 

Other  forms,  of  which  engravings  are  not  given,  are 
the  following.  First,  a  basin,  or  deep  pan,  with  only  one 
handle  in  the  form  of  a  tube,  into  which  a  wooden 
handle  had  been  fixed  ;  it  is  2  ft.  in  diameter. 

Next,  a  very  large  kettle  with  three  vertical  handles ; 
it  measures  2  ft.  6  in.  in  diameter,  and,  as  is  clear  from  the 
perforations  in  the  rim  of  the  bottom,  the  latter  has  been 
fastened  with  pins.  This  vessel  is  so  large  that  it  can  only 
have  served  for  heating  water  for  the  bath,  and  it  would, 


No.  439.    A  large  two-handled  Vessel  of  Copper.    Sepulchre  IV.    Size  i  :  4. 

therefore,  have  been  called  Xoerpoxoos ;  but  the  poet 

mentions  only  such  large  vessels  for  heating  the  water 
for  the  bath  with  three  feet,  and  calls  them,  therefore, 
TpL7rov<;  Xoerpo-)(6o<;*  There  was  also  a  beautifully-fashioned 
copper  basin  of  oval  form  ;  it  has  probably  had  two  handles 
in  the  two  places  where  the  rim  is  broken  away.  Of  the 
last  described  three  vessels  no  other  specimens  were  found. 

Most  of  these  copper  kettles,  basins  or  cans,  bear  the 
most  unmistakeable  signs  of  having  been  for  a  long  time 


*  //.  XVIII.  346  ;  Odyss.  VIII.  435- 


1876.J  HOMERIC  TRIPODS.  277 

used  on  the  fire ;  whilst  a  few  have  the  appearance  of 
having  never  been  on  the  fire. 

The  custom  of  placing  a  large  number  of  copper 
kettles  or  large  copper  vases  in  the  tombs  belongs  to  a  great 
antiquity.  The  museum  of  the  Warwakeion  at  Athens 
possesses  seven  funeral  urns  of  copper,  with  lids  turning 
on  hinges,  which  contained  the  ashes  of  the  deceased. 
This  small  number  shows  how  rarely  copper  vessels  were 
used  in  Greece,  even  for  this  purpose ;  but  that  additional 
copper  kettles  should  have  been  placed  in  a  tomb  merely 
in  honour  of  the  dead,  is  a  thing  unheard  of  in  Greek 
tombs.  But  that  such  was  the  custom  in  a  very  remote 
antiquity  is  proved  by  these  Mycenean  sepulchres,  and  by 
the  tomb  of  Corneto,  as  well  as  by  the  newly  discovered 
tomb  at  Palestrina,  of  which  I  shall  have  occasion  to 
speak  hereafter.  Copper  vessels,  as  ornaments  of  the 
tombs,  were  found  in  the  cemetery  of  Ilallstatt,  in  Austria,* 
which  belongs,  however,  to  a  much  later  period  than  the 
Mycenean  tombs. 

Of  capital  interest  is  the  copper  tripod  (No.  440).  It 
has  three  handles,  of  which  two  are  horizontal  and  one 
vertical ;  to  the  right  of  the  spectator  is  a  small  mouth. 
The  tripod  was  used  in  the  Homeric  times  for  various  pur- 
poses. In  the  Odyssey,f  as  we^  as  m  tnc  H';u'4  we  find  it 
used  for  presents  of  honour.  In  the  Iliad,§  it  is  given  as 
a  prize  in  the  games,  and  it  also  occurs  as  an  ornament  of 
the  rooms,  ||  and,  further,  for  the  heating  of  water  and  for 
cooking.^j  To  indicate  its  use  for  these  latter  purposes, 
Homer**  gives  also  the  epithet  i^TrvpL^rjTr)<i  to  the  tripod. 

There  was  further  found  in  this  tomb  a  mass  of  small 


*  See  Edward  Ereiherr  von  Sackcn,  '  Das  Orabteld  von  Hallstatt.  ' 
t  XIII.  13;  and  XV.  84.        %  VIII.  290;  and  IX.  122. 
§  XI.  700  ;  XXIII.  264,  485,  513.  7i8.       ||  //.  XVIII.  373. 
IT  Odyss.  VIII.  434;  //.  XVIII.  344. 

**  //.  XXIII.  702  ;  XXII.  164  it  is  calleu  t/httos  instead  of  the 
usual  form  t/jiVovs. 


278 


THE  FOURTH  SEPULCHRE.  [Chap.  VIII. 


thin  round  pieces  of  copper  plate,  having  all  around  the 
rim  perforations,  which  show  that  they  have  been  used  as 
ornaments,  probably  on  horse-trappings  ;  also,  a  copper 
vase-handle,  plated  with  gold. 

I  collected  in  this  tomb,  forty-six  bronze  swords  more 
or  less  fragmentary,  also  four  lances  and  three  long  knives, 
of  which  I  shall  describe  the  most  remarkable.  One  of 
the  lances  is  represented  under  No.  441  ;  like  all  the  My- 


No.  440.    A  Copper  Tripod.    Sepulchre  IV.    Size  i  :  4. 


cenean  lances,  it  has  a  tube,  in  which  the  wooden  lance- 
shaft  was  fixed,  but,  as  an  exception,  there  is  here  a  ring 
on  either  side,  by  which  the  lance-head  was  attached  to  the 
shaft  by  means  of  a  cord,  to  prevent  its  being  lost.  As 
I  have  already  stated,  all  Homeric  lances  seem  to  have 
had  a  similar  tube,  in  which  the  shaft  was  fixed  ;  on  the 
outside  of  the  tube  of  the  lance  we  see  the  broad  flat  head 
of  the  nail  with  which  the  shaft  was  fastened. 


i«76.] 


WEAPONS  OF  BRONZE. 


279 


1* 


Among  the  swords,  ten  were  short  and  one-edged,  of 
which  I  represent  two  under  No.  442  and  442a ;  they  con- 
sist each  of  one  solid  piece  of  bronze,  and  measure,  when 
entire,  from  2  ft.  to  2  ft.  3  in. 
in  length.  The  handle  is  too 
thick  to  have  been  covered 
with  wood,  and  must  have 
been  used  as  it  is :  the  end 
of  it  forms  a  ring,  by  which 
the  sword  was  suspended  to 
the  shoulder-belt  (reXa/jLcou) 
or  to  the  girdle  ((wo-r^'p  or 
£d>vrj).  As  these  short  one- 
edged  swords  are,  properly 
speaking,  nothing  else  than 
long  knives,  they  evidently 
represent  the  original  mean- 
ing of  the  Homeric  word, 
(f>do-yapoi>*  which  is  derived, 
by  a  euphonic  transposition 
of  the  letters,  from  the  same 
root  as  that  of  xrdtarfn  and 
afyatfo  {slaughter),  and  thus 
this  weapon  must  primitively 
have  been  used  chiefly  for 
slaughtering  animals,  and,  per- 
haps, also  for  killing  in  close 
fight ;  but  the  name  gradually 
lost  its  original  signification, 
and  in  Homer  it  is  perfectly  sy- 
nonymous with  ££0osand  aop. 

There  was  also  found  a  double-edged  weapon  with  a 
long  tube  (av\6<;)  ;  but  this  latter  being  very  narrow,  it  is 


No.  441- 
A  Lance-head  of  Bronze. 
Sepulchre  IV.    Size  i  :  5,  about. 

Nov  441,  443a. 
Small  one-edged  Bronze  Swords. 
Sepulchre  IV.    Size  3  :  16,  about. 


*  <t>d<ryavov  for  <T(f>dyuvov,  from  the  root  cr<£ay.  There  was  als  > 
a  verb  tfmoyaaw  "  to  kill  with  the  sword  :"  Hesych.  Lex.  s.  v. 


280 


THE  FOURTH  SEPULCHRE. 


[Chap.  VIII. 


m 

hi 


hardly  possible  that  it  can  be  a  lance, 
and  I  think  it  is  a  long  dagger-knife, 
the  handle  of  which  has  been  made 
hollow,  merely  to  make  the  weapon  less 
heavy.    No.  443  is  a  fragment  of  the 
blade  of  a  two-edged  bronze  sword, 
whose  ridge  is  serrated  on  both  sides, 
either  for  the  sake  of  ornamentation,  or 
for  the  purpose  of  making  the  wounds 
inflicted  with  the  sword  more  danger- 
ous.    Another  weapon  (No.  444)  is 
formed  by  soldering  two  or  three  long 
narrow  thick  plates  of  bronze ;  and  in 
the  interior  of  the  lower  part,  which 
is  round,  we  see  a  great  many  small 
bronze  pins,  whose  presence  is  just  as 
inexplicable  as  the  use  of  the  weapon 
itself.    From  the  point  where  the  lower 
crevice  ends,  it  is  quadrangular  ;  but  its 
thickness  gradually  diminishes  towards 
the  end,  which  forms  a  small  but  sharp 
horizontal  edge.     There  are  sixteen 
marks  of  small  nails  or  pins  in  the  left 
border  of  the  lower  crevice,  which  lead 
me  to  venture  the  opinion  that  the  lower 
round  part  must  have  been  fixed  in  a 
handle  of  wood  or  bone,  and  that  the 
weapon  may  have  been  used  as  a  dagger. 
I  may  here  mention  that  the  Trojan 
Treasure  contained  two  weapons  similar 
in  form  but  of  one  solid  piece  of  metal.* 
There  is  also  a  lance-head,  with  a  tube  for  the  shaft,  but 
without  rings  such  as  those  of  the  lance,  No.  441  ;  also 
a  very  peculiar  fragment  of  the  blade  of  a  double-edged 


Nos.  443,  444. 

Fragment  of  a  two-edged 
Bronze  Sword,  and  another 
weapon,  probably  a  Dagger. 

Sepulchre  IV.  Half-size. 


*  See  'Troy  and  its  Remains,'  p.  332,  Nos.  267  and  268. 


1876. 


BRONZE  SWORDS. 


281 


sword,  on  which  the  high  protruding 
middle  part  or  ridge  is  very  conspicu- 
ous ;  further,  the  fragment  of  a  blade 
of  a  short  two-edged  sword,  on  which 
we  still  see  remnants  of  the  wooden 
sheath.  At  its  lower  end  there  are, 
on  either  side,  three  large  round  flat 
golden  pin-heads,  by  which  it  was 
fastened  to  the  handle.  I  also  men- 
tion the  fragments  of  three  very 
long  two  -  edged  sword  -  blades,  of 
which  two  have  retained  remnants 
of  their  wooden  sheaths.  The  first 
is  2  ft.,  the  second  2£  ft.,  the  third 
1  ft.  9  in.  long ;  but  when  entire, 
every  one  of  them  has  probably 
been  more  than  3  ft.  in  length. 
All  show,  at  either  side  of  their 
lower  end,  the  flat  heads  of  the  pins 
by  which  they  were  attached  to  the 
handles.  On  all  three  we  see  the 
protruding  ridge.  I  must  still  notice 
two  sword-blades  and  an  alabaster 
sword-handle  knob  adorned  with  two 
large  flat  golden  nail-heads  (Nos. 
445,  a,  6,  c).  Perfectly  similar  ala- 
baster knobs,  but  without  golden 
nails,  were  found  by  me  at  Troy, 
but  I  did  not  know  then  that  they 
belonged  to  sword-handles,  and  I 
fancied  they  had  served  as  handles 
to  house  doors,  or  on  walking-sticks.*  The  two-edged 
sword-blade  (No.  445a),  at  the  top  of  which  arc  still 
attached  remnants  of  the  wooden  sheath,  measures  2  ft.  7  in. 


Nos.  445,  a,  bt  c. 
Two-cdficd  Bronze  Swords  and 
an  Alabaster  Sword- Knob. 
Sepulchre  IV. 
Size,  1  :  6,  about. 


See  '  Troy  and  its  Remains,'  p.  265. 


36 


282 


THE  FOURTH  SEPULCHRE. 


[Chap.  VIII. 


in  length.  On  either  side  of  its  lower  end  we  see  the 
four  bronze  nails  with  flat  heads,  by  which  it  was 
fastened  to  the  handle.  The  lower  end  of  the  sword- 
blade,  No.  445^,  is  adorned  with 
three  flat  golden  pin-heads  on  each 
side. 

I  further  mention  a  long  knife, 
with  part  of  its  bone  handle,  the 
extremity  of  which  has  evidently 
had  a  curve  ;  also,  the  blade  of  a 
short  two-edged  sword,  showing  at 
the  lower  end,  on  each  side,  four 
large  flat  golden  pin-heads  (No.  446). 
A  gold  plate  extends  all  along  the 
middle  part  of  the  blade  on  both 
sides,  and  remnants  of  the  wooden 
sheath  are  visible  in  the  middle  as 
well  as  at  the  end.  I  need  only 
mention  the  fragments  of  four  two- 
edged  sword-blades.  The  middle 
part  of  the  one  is  serrated  all  along. 
The  lower  extremity  of  another  is, 
on  either  side,  plated  with  gold  and 
adorned  with  three  large  flat  golden 
pin-heads;  the  gold-plated  part  is 
very  distinct.  No.  447  represents 
one  of  several  alabaster  sword- 
handle  knobs,  each  ornamented  with 
two  golden  pins  or  nails.  Nos.  448 
and  449  are  sword-blades,  of  which 
the  longer  one  (No.  448)  is  very 
well  preserved,  and  is  2  ft.  10  in. 
long.  No.  449  has  retained  part  of 
its  handle,  which  is  plated  with  gold  and  attached  by  gold 
pins ;  all  along  the  surface  of  the  blade  we  see  vertical  lines  of 
intaglio  work,  which  give  to  the  weapon  a  beautiful  aspect. 


No.  446. 
Two-edged   Bronze  Sword. 
Sepulchre  IV.  Half-size. 


■  876] 


MYCENEAN  S WORDS  LIKE  RA1MKRS. 


283 


Another  fragment  of  a  large  beautiful  bronze  sword  has 
the  blade  plated  with  gold  in  its  entire  length,  the  handle 
being  also  thickly  plated  with  gold  and  adorned  with 
magnificent  intaglio  work.  But  it  has  suffered  so  much  in 
the  funeral  fire,  and  it  is  so  dirty 
from  the  smoke  and  ashes,  that  the 
ornamentation  cannot  be  discerned 
in  the  photograph,  and,  therefore,  I 
cannot  give  an  engraving  of  it.  Mr. 
Newton  justly  remarks  regarding  the 
Mycenean  swords:  "The  ridge  or 
thread  on  some  of  the  swords  is 
raised  so  high  down  the  centre  of 
the  blade  as  to  suggest  the  idea  that 
this  weapon  was  used  like  a  rapier, 
only  for  thrusting." 

I  here  call  particular  attention  to 
the  extreme  narrowness  of  nearly  all 
the  Mycenean  swords,  and  to  the 
enormous  length  of  most  of  them, 
which  seems  in  a  great  many  cases 
to  have  exceeded  3  feet ;  in  fact, 
they  are,  in  general,  not  broader  than 
our  rapiers.  So  far  as  I  know,  swords 
of  this  shape  have  never  been  found 
before. 

With  some  of  the  swords  I  found 
traces  of  well-woven  linen,  small 
particles  of  which  were  still  attached 
to  the  sword-blades ;  and  there  can 
consequently  be  no  doubt  that  many 
swords  had  sheaths  of  linen. 

I  further  collected  in  this  tomb 
oyster-shells  and  many  entire  oysters,  which  had  never 
been  opened,  from  which  I  conclude  that,  as  in  the  funeral 
customs  of  ancient  Egypt,  food  was  laid  in  the  tombs 


Nos.  447-449. 
Two  edged  Hronn:  Swords  and  an 

Alabaster  Sword-Knob 
Sepulchre  IV.    Site  i  :  8.  about. 


a  large  quantity  of 


284 


THE  FOURTH  SEPULCHRE. 


[Chap.  VIII. 


of  the  deceased.  There  was  found  in  this  sepulchre,  as  well 
as  in  all  the  other  tombs,  a  large  quantity  of  broken 
pottery,  on  seeing  which,  Mr.  Panagiotes  Eustratiades, 
Director-General  of  Antiquities,  reminded  me  of  the  habit 
still  existing  in  Greece,  of  breaking  vases  filled  with  water 
on  the  tombs  of  departed  friends.  Mr.  Eustratiades  also 
mentioned  to  me  that  copper  kettles  and  vases  were  the 
great  ornaments  of  the  houses,  not  only  in  antiquity,  but 
throughout  all  the  Middle  Ages  until  the  Greek  re- 
volution. This  is,  so  far,  very  well  ;  but,  except  these 
Mycenean  sepulchres,  the  cemetery  of  Hallstatt,  and  the 
tombs  of  Corneto  and  Palestrina,  we  have  not  yet  found 
an  example  to  prove  that  they  served  to  ornament  the 
abodes  of  the  dead. 

One  handle  of  a  hand-made  vase  found  in  this  tomb 
particularly  attracted  my  attention  by  its  six  perforations, 
one  of  which  was  large  enough  for  a  thick  string  to  pass 
through,  and  it  may,  therefore,  have  served  for  suspension ; 
but  the  other  five  would  be  too  small  even  for '  a  fine 
thread,  and  they  can,  therefore,  never  have  served  for 
suspension,  and  I  suppose  they  were  merely  used  to  put 
flowers  in,  as  an  ornament. 

Of  the  bones  of  the  five  bodies  of  this  tomb,  as  well  as 
of  those  of  the  bodies  in  the  other  sepulchres,  I  collected 
all  which  were  not  too  much  decayed,  and  they  will 
be  exhibited  in  the  National  Museum  at  Athens  together 
with  the  treasures.  Of  course  the  contents  of  each 
sepulchre  are  to  be  kept  separate.  I  give  here  an  engraving 
of  only  the  best-preserved  jaw  (No.  450),  with  thirteen  well- 
preserved  teeth  ;  three  only  are  missing. 

There  were  further  found  two  broken  alabaster  vases, 
and  a  pedestal  of  alabaster  to  stand  vases  on,  besides  a 
very  large  quantity  of  fragments  of  hand-made  or  very 
ancient  wheel-made  pottery.  To  the  former  category 
belongs  a  vase,  which  has  been  wrought  to  a  lustrous 
surface  by  hand-polishing.    It  has  had  two  handles,  but 


1876.]  BONES  FROM  THE  TOMBS.  285 

only  one  is  preserved.  Another  vase  is  a  beautiful 
specimen  of  the  most  ancient  Mycenean  wheel-made 
pottery.  It  has  four  handles,  and  on  a  light  yellow  dead 
ground  an  ornamentation  of  dark-red  colour  representing 
spirals,  circular  bands,  and  circles,  filled  with  a  network  of 
lines. 


So.  450.    Human  Jawbone.    Sepulchre  IV.    Size  3  :  4. 


In  this  tomb,  as  well  as  in  the  four  others,  were  found 
many  fragments  of  that  kind  of  terra-cotta  goblet  which 
maintained  its  form  here  for  more  than  1,000  years 
without  any  modification ;  only  its  colour  and  mode  of 
fabrication  varied,  for,  while  in  the  sepulchres  we  find 
it  of  a  light  green  colour  with  a  beautiful  black  spiral 
ornamentation,  we  find  it  afterwards  of  a  plain  light  green 
colour,  but  still  hand-made.     In  later  times  we  find  it 


286 


THE  FOURTH  SEPULCHRE.  [Chap.  VIII. 


either  of  a  uniform  lustrous  plain  dark  red  colour  or  of  a 
a  light  yellow  dead  colour  with  numerous  dark  red  and 
black  bands,  as  shown  in  previous  illustrations.*  In  still 
later  times  we  find  it  with  no  other  colour  than  the  light 
yellow  or  white  of  the  clay  itself.f  Goblets  of  this 
latter  sort  must  have  been  in  use  here  for  a  great  number 
of  centuries  and  until  the  capture  of  the  city,  because 
their  fragments  are  found  in  enormous  quantities,  and  of 
their  feet  I  could  have  collected  thousands  of  speci- 
mens. We  have  also  a  number  of  specimens  of  this 
goblet  in  gold,  such  as  that  shown  under  No.  343-J  In 
Troy  I  found  this  very  same  form  of  goblet  in  the  first  and 
most  ancient  of  the  prehistoric  cities,  at  a  depth  of  about 
50  ft.§ 

As  a  specimen  of  the  only  other  type  of  terra-cotta 
goblet  I  refer  the  reader  to  one  already  mentioned  as 
found  in  the  first  tomb.||  It  represents  the  lower  part  of  a 
large  hand-made  lustrous  black  goblet,  with  a  hollow  foot 
and  horizontal  flutings  in  the  middle.  But  fragments  of 
this  sort  of  goblets  were  found  also  in  the  four  other 
sepulchres.  This  form  of  goblet  is  very  rarely  found 
outside  of  the  tombs,  and  only  here  and  there  in  the  lowest 
strata.  But  I  found  it  in  the  ruins  of  the  most  ancient 
prehistoric  city  at  Troy. 

In  this  fourth  tomb  were  found  two  whetstones  of 
fine  hard  sandstone.  Both  have  at  the  top  a  perforation 
for  suspension  with  a  string. 

I  have  further  to  mention  among  the  objects  dis- 
covered in  this  tomb  the  beautiful  golden  cylinder  (No. 
451),  and  the  splendid  golden  handle  terminating  in  a 
dragon's  head  (No.  452).  Both  these  objects  undoubtedly 
belong  to  each  other,  and  most  probably  composed  the 

*  See  Nos.  84,  88,  p.  71. 

t  No.  83,  p.  70.  %  See  p.  233. 

§  See  my  'Atlas  des  Antiquite's  Troyennes,'  PI.  105,  No.  231 1. 

||  See  No.  230,  p.  154. 


1876.]       GOLDEN  DRAGON,  WITH  CRYSTAL  SCALES. 


287 


handle  of  a  sceptre,  an  augur's  staff,  or  something  of 
similar  importance,  for  both  offer  the  unique  example 
among  the  Mycenean  antiquities  of  gold  incrusted  with  a 
sort  of  mosaic  of  rock-crystal.  To  examine  first  the 
golden  cylinder  (No.  451);  it  consists  of  four-leaved 
flowers  united  at  the  points  of  the  leaves.  Each  of  the 
latter  shows  in  all  its  length  a  flat  oval  hollow  incrusted 
with  a  piece  of  rock-crystal,  which  exactly  fits  into  it. 


Nos.  451,  453.    A  Gulden  Tube  ;  and  a  Golden  Dragon  with  scales  of  rock  crystal,  both  being 
probably  pieces  of  a  sceptre-handle.    Sepulchre  IV.    Siie  3  :  4. 

Between  every  two  flowers  is  a  square  space  with 
curved  sides,  which  is  also  filled  up  with  well  fitting  pieces 
of  rock-crystal.  Of  these  latter  only  one  can  be  seen  in 
the  engraving  before  us  in  the  middle  of  the  right  side  of 
the  cylinder,  as  it  is  represented ;  the  other  pieces,  which 
are  mostly  preserved,  will  be  put  in  again  as  soon  as 
the  Arch;cological  Society  shall  be  able  to  exhibit  the 
Mycenean  collection. 


288 


THE  FOURTH  SEPULCHRE.  [Chap.  VIII. 


The  appearance  of  the  cylinder,  when  all  the  trans- 
parent crystal  pieces  were  in  their  places,  must  have  been 
of  marvellous  beauty.  The  golden  handle  with  the  dragon's 
head  (No.  452),  which  belongs  to  the  cylinder,  is  hollow, 
and  still  contains  ddbris  of  the  wood  with  which  it  was 
filled.  The  head  of  the  dragon,  with  its  large  eyes,  of 
which  one  only  appears  in  the  engraving,  as  well  as  its  open 
jaws,  can  be  distinctly  seen.  The  scales  of  the  dragon  have 
been  skilfully  imitated  by  means  of  small  beautifully-cut 
pieces  of  rock-crystal,  which  fit  so  well  into  the  small 
symmetrical  hollows  prepared  for  them  in  the  gold,  that 
only  one  of  them  has  as  yet  fallen  out.  This  is  the  more 
astonishing  as  the  handle  represents  the  most  unmistakable 
marks  of  the  fire  to  which  it  has  been  exposed  on  the 
funeral  pile.  If  Homer  had  seen  this  extraordinary  handle 
when  it  was  entire,  he  would  undoubtedly  have  ascribed  it 
to  the  skilful  hand  of  Hephaestus,  and  would  have  uttered 
his  sense  of  its  beauty  in  the  words  davfia  l&ecrdcu,  "  a 
wonder  to  look  upon." 

Note  on  the  Royal  Palace. 

I  omitted  to  mention,  in  Chapter  V.,  that  in  my  opinion  the  ruins 
extant  to  the  south  of  the  Agora,  in  which  we  see  no  windows,  can  be 
only  the  substructions  of  the  Royal  Palace.  I  would  further  suggest 
that  all  these  substructions  reached  only  to  the  level  of  the  great 
Cyclopean  circuit  wall,  and  that  upon  them  was  built  the  palace  proper, 
of  wood.  This  opinion  seems  to  be  corroborated  by  the  tremendous 
quantities  of  yellow  wood-ashes  with  which  the  interior  of  those  sub- 
structions was  filled  up,  as  well  as  by  the  impossibility  of  admitting 
that  the  Royal  Palace  should  have  had  no  windows,  and  should  have 
been  built  in  the  deep  hollow,  so  as  to  be  shut  out  by  the  great 
Cyclopean  wall  from  any  view  of  the  lower  city  and  the  plain. 


No.  474.    Massive  Golden  Musk  of  the  body  at  the  south  end  of  the  First  Sepulchre.    Size  1  :  3, 
about.    (For  description,  sec  page  31a.) 


CIIAPTKR  IX. 

Tiik  Fifth  Sepulchre,  and  the  First  again. 

At  length  again  a  guard  and  watchfire  on  the  Acropolis  of  Mycense— 
Exploration  of  the  Fifth  Tomb —  Its  sepulc  hral  stela  -  The  tomb 
described  ;  containing  only  one  body  —  Golden  diadem  and  other 
objects  found  in  the  tomb  Hand-made  vases  of  terra-cotta  ;  one 
with  female  breasts,  like  the  prehistoric  vases  at  Santorin  and  Troy  - 
Wheel-made  pottery — Excavation  of  the  First  Tomb  completed 
Its  position  and  construction — Three  bodies  in  it  :  the  middle  one 
has  been  disturbed  and  rifled  of  its  ornaments — Large  size  of  the 
bodies  -Golden  mask  and  state  of  the  first — Wonderful  preservation 
of  the  third — Its  ponderous  gold  mask,  face,  and  teeth— Description 
of  the  body— its  remarkable  compression  —Golden  breast-plate,  and 
leaves  of  gold  on  the  forehead,  eyes,  and  breast  Excitement  caused 
by  the  discovery — Measures  taken  to  preserve  and  remove  the 
body — Its  shoulder  belt  and  bronze  sword  with  crystal  ornament, 
and  disks  of  gold  for  the  sheath  :  all  special  funeral  ornaments, 
and  not  for  ordinary  use— Description  of  the  golden  breast-covers 


37 


290 


THE  FIFTH  SEPULCHRE. 


[Chap.  IX. 


of  this  and  the  first  body  —  Highly-decorated  bronze  swords  and 
other  objects  found  with  the  third  body — Ornamented  golden  leaves, 
a  wooden  comb,  and  bronze  swords,  with  the  second  body  —  A 
large  heap  of  broken  bronze  swords,  with  knives  and  lances — Other 
weapons,  chiefly  in  fragments  —  Amber  and  gold  beads,  and  various 
objects  of  gold  and  silver — -An  alabaster  vase  —  Wonderful  plates 
of  gold  — ■  The  two  massive  golden  masks  of  the  first  tomb — The 
skilled  work  argues  a  long-trained  school  of  artists — Several  large 
goblets  of  gold  and  silver  —  Objects  in  this  sepulchre  —  A  silver 
vase,  with  copper  and  gold  plating — A  drinking-cup  of  alabaster  — 
Plates  of  gold,  in  form  of  double  eagles,  &c. — Fragments  of  silver 
vases ;  one  with  a  gold  mouth-piece  and  handle — A  splendidly  orna- 
mented plate  of  gold,  covering  a  cylinder  of  charred  wood — Hundred-- 
of  gold  button-plates,  large  and  small,  with  various  ornamentation — 
The  new  types  shown  —  Gold  plates,  ribbons,  and  ornaments  for 
greaves  —  Tubes  and  buttons  of  bone;  their  probable  use  —  An 
ivory  plate,  and  a  curious  object  of  glazed  Egyptian  porcelain  — 
Hand-made  and  wheel-made  pottery  —  Seven  large  copper  vessels, 
caldrons  and  cans — A  quadrangular  wooden  box,  with  most  interest- 
ing reliefs. 

Mycenae,  6th  December,  1876. 

For  the  first  time  since  its  capture  by  the  Argives  in 
468  B.C.,  and  so  for  the  first  time  daring  2,344  years, 
the  Acropolis  of  Mycenao  has  a  garrison,  whose  watch- 
fires  seen  by  night  throughout  the  whole  Plain  of  Argos 
carry  back  the  mind  to  the  watch  kept  for  Agamemnon's 
return  from  Troy,  and  the  signal  which  warned  Clytem- 
nestra  and  her  paramour  of  his  approach. |  But  this  time  the 
object  of  the  occupation  by  soldiery  is  of  a  more  peaceful 
character,  for  it  is  merely  intended  to  inspire  awe  among 
the  country-people,  and  to  prevent  them  from  making 
clandestine  excavations  in  the  tombs,  or  approaching  them 
while  we  are  working  in  them. 

Already  while  engaged  in  the  excavation  of  the  large 
Fourth  Tomb,  the  results  of  which  I  have  described,  I 
explored  the  Fifth  and  last  Sepulchre,  which  is  immediately 
to  the  north-west  of  it  (see  Plan  B  and  the  Ichnography, 


See  the  opening  scene  of  the  Agamemnon  of  /Eschylus. 


1876.I  ONLY  ONE  BODY   IN  THE  TOMB.  291 

Plate  VI.),  and  which  had  been  marked  by  the  large  stel£W\t\\ 
the  bas-relief  of  frets  or  key-patterns  resembling  two  ser- 
pents, and  by  an  unsculptured  tombstone,  both  of  which 
were  1 1  ft.  8  in.  below  the  surface  of  the  mount,  as  it  was 
when  I  began  the  excavation.  At  a  depth  of  10  ft.  below 
the  two  sepulchral  stila,  or  of  21  ft.  8  in.  below  the  former 
surface,  I  found  two  unsculptured  stclcc,  evidently  much 
older  :  and,  only  3  ft.  4  in.  below  these,  I  found  a  tomb 
1  1  ft.  6  in.  long  and  9  ft.  8  in.  broad,  which  had  been  cut 
out  in  the  calcareous  rock  to  a  depth  of  only  2  ft.,  so  that 
its  bottom  is  27  ft.  below  the  former  surface  of  the  mount. 
Unlike  the  other  tombs,  the  four  inner  sides  of  this 
sepulchre  were  not  lined  with  walls,  but  merely  with  large 
pieces  of  schist,  which  were  placed  in  a  slanting  position 
against  the  low  border  of  the  tomb,  and  had  not  been 
joined  with  clay. 

As  usual,  the  bottom  of  the  tomb  was  strewn  with  a 
layer  of  pebbles,  on  which  I  found  the  mortal  remains 
of  only  one  person,  with  the  head  turned  towards  the 
east,  which,  like  all  the  other  bodies,  had  been  burned 
on  the  precise  spot  where  it  lay.  This  was  proved  by  the 
calcined  pebbles  below  and  around  the  corpse,  as  well  as 
by  the  undisturbed  masses  of  ashes  with  which  it  was 
covered,  and  finally  by  the  marks  of  the  funeral  fire  on  the 
walls  of  rock.  Around  the  skull  of  the  body,  which  was 
unfortunately  too  fragile  to  be  saved,  was  a  golden  diadem, 
similar  to  those  already  represented,  with  an  ornamentation 
in  rcpoussd  work,  showing  in  the  middle  three  shield-like 
circles,  with  flowers  or  a  wheel  in  rotation  ;  the  remaining 
space  being  filled  up  with  beautiful  spirals. 

On  the  right  side  of  the  body  I  found  a  lance-head  with 
a  ring  on  either  side,  like  that  already  shown  ;f  also,  two 
small  bronze  swords  and  two  long  knives  of  the  same  metal. 
On  its  left  was  found  the  gold  drinking-cup  now  rcprc- 

*  See  No.  441,  p.  279. 


292  THE  FIFTH  SEPULCHRE.  [Chap.  IX. 

sented  (No.  453).  It  has  only  one  handle,  and  its  orna- 
mentation in  repousst  work  exhibits  four  horizontal  bands, 
joined  two  and  two,  and  ornamented  with  slanting  strokes 
which  converge  in  the  form  of  wedges,  so  that  the  orna- 
mentation of  every  two  bands  conjointly  resembles  fish- 
spines  ;  and  in  order  to  enhance  still  more  the  beauty  of 
these  bands,  the  wedges  of  each  two  bands  point  in  opposite 


NTo.  453.    A  richly  ornamented  Cup  of  Gold.    Sepulchre  V.    Size  9  :  10,  about. 


directions.  The  whole  upper  part  is  ornamented  with  a 
continuous  row  of  pointed  arches,  the  joined  sides  of 
which  are  adorned  with  nine  horizontal  strokes.  The 
handle  is  fastened  with  four  nails  to  the  rim  and  the  body 
of  the  goblet.  With  the  swords  were  found  small  rags  of 
beautifully-woven  linen,  which,  doubtless,  belonged  to  the 
sheaths  of  these  weapons. 

In  the  same  tomb  was  found  a  fragmented  light  green 
vase,  65  in.  high,  of  Egyptian  porcelain,  ornamented  with 
two  rows  of  protruding  bosses,  three  in  each  row ;  also 


1876.]  VASE  LIKK  THOSE  OF  THEKA.  293 

fragments  of  a  light  red  vase  of  terra-cotta,  ornamented 
with  black  spiral  lines,  and  with  two  female  breasts  sur- 
rounded by  circles  of  black,  strokes.  Professor  Landerer, 
who  has  examined  and  analysed  a  fragment  of  the  former 
vase,  writes  me  that  the  porcelain  is  very  calcareous,  and 
would  be  called  in  mineralogy  " Thonmergel-schiefer " 
(clay-marl-slate) ;  that  the  borders,  examined  with  a  magni- 
fying glass  in  the  sun,  exhibit  a  gold-like  and  silvery  glaze, 
produced  by  a  lead  varnish  with  which  the  vase  was 
covered  and  which  was  afterwards  burned  in. 

With  regard  to  this  vase  with  the  female  breasts, 
similar  vases  were  found  on  the  islands  of  Thera  (Santorin) 
and  Therassia,  in  the  ruins  of  the  prehistoric  cities  which, 
as  before  stated,  were  covered  by  an  eruption  of  that  great 
central  volcano  which  is  believed  by  competent  geologists 
to  have  sunk  and  disappeared  about  1,700  to  1,800  B.C. 
They  are  also  very  frequent  in  the  ruins  of  Troy,  where, 
however,  most  of  them  have  also  a  navel  and  an  owl-face.* 

There  were  further  found  in  this  tomb,  besides  a  mas>> 
of  fragments  of  hand-made  pottery,  fragments  of  beautiful 
wheel-made  pottery,  ornamented  with  plants  turned  into 
spirals ;  and  other  fragments,  which  present  on  a  light 
yellow  dead  colour  a  magnificent  ornamentation  of  dark 
red  spirals. 

The  mud  in  the  First  Sepulchre,  whose  site  had  been 
marked  by  the  three  stela;  with  low  reliefs,  having  dried 
up  in  the  fine  weather,  I  continued  the  excavation  there, 
and  struck  at  last  the  bottom  of  the  tomb,  which  is  cut 
out  in  the  rock,  \  ~t\  ft.  deep  on  the  north  side,  and  17  ft. 
deep  on  the  south-east  side.  But  from  these  points  the 
slope  is  so  abrupt  that,  although  the  upper  breadth  of 
the  sepulchre  does  not  exceed  10  ft.  10  in.,  yet  the  greater 
part  of  its  west  side  needed  only  to  be  cut  1 1  ft.  deep  into 


*  See  'Troy  and  its  Remains,'  p.  35,  No.  13;  p.  106,  No.  70; 
p.  307,  No.  2 1 9. 


294  THE  FIRST  SEPULCHRE.  [Chap.  IX. 

the  rock  to  make  a  level  bottom.  This  west  side  is  close 
to  the  Cyclopean  wall,  with  the  parallel  double  row  of  large 
calcareous  slabs,  which  forms  the  enclosure  and  benches 
of  the  Agora,  and  rises  vertically  over  the  sepulchre.  (See 
Plans  B  and  C.)  For  all  these  reasons  it  appeared  to  me, 
on  first  excavating  this  tomb,  that  the  wall  passed  through 
its  north-west  angle.  But,  by  propping  up  with  planks  and 
beams  the  earth  and  stones  which  cling  to  the  wall  and 
overhang  the  north-west  corner  of  the  tomb,  I  have  now 
cleared  the  latter  in  its  entire  length,  and  visitors  will  per- 
ceive that  the  wall  does  not  pass  through  the  tomb  but 
merely  touches  its  brink  in  the  north-west  corner. 

The  length  of  the  tomb  is  2,1  ft.  6  in.,  its  breadth  at 
the  bottom  is  1 1  ft.  6  in.,  and  thus  8  in.  more  than  at  the 
top.  The  four  inner  sides  were  lined  with  a  Cyclopean 
wall,  3  ft.  high  and  2  ft.  broad ;  and  this  had  superposed 
on  it  a  slanting  wall  of  schist  plates  joined  with  clay, 
which  reached  to  a  height  of  6i  ft.,  and  projected  on  all 
sides  a  foot  more  than  the  Cyclopean  wall,  and  thus  in 
all  3  feet  on  the  bottom  of  the  tomb.  The  latter  was 
covered  with  the  usual  layer  of  pebbles,  which  were,  how- 
ever, more  irregularly  strewn  than  in  the  other  tombs, 
there  being  places  without  any  pebbles ;  which  circum- 
stance made  me  at  first  believe  that  there  was  no  layer 
of  pebbles  at  all  in  this  tomb.  But  on  careful  examination, 
I  found  such  a  layer,  and  below  the  bodies  I  found  it  just 
as  regular  as  in  any  other  tomb,  which  circumstance  appears 
to  give  an  additional  proof  that  those  layers  of  pebbles 
were  merely  intended  to  procure  ventilation  for  the  pyres. 

The  three  bodies  which  the  sepulchre  contained  lay  at 
a  distance  of  about  3  ft.  from  each  other,  and  had  been 
burnt  in  the  very  same  place  where  I  found  them.  This 
was  evident  from  the  marks  of  the  fire  on  the,  pebbles  and 
on  the  rock  below  and  also  around  the  bodies,  and  to  the 
right  and  left  of  them  on  the  walls,  as  well  as  from  the 
undisturbed  state  of  the  ashes.    Only  with  the  body  which 


1876.]  THREE  BODIES  IN  THE  TOMB.  295 

lay  in  the  midst  the  case  was  different.  The  ashes  had 
evidently  been  disturbed  ;  the  clay  with  which  the  two 
other  bodies  and  their  ornaments  were  covered,  and  the 
layer  of  pebbles  which  covered  the  clay,  had  been  removed 
from  this  body.  As,  besides,  it  was  found  almost  without 
any  gold  ornaments,  it  is  evident  that  it  had  been  rifled. 
This  opinion  is  also  confirmed  by  the  twelve  golden 
buttons,  the  small  golden  plates,  and  the  numerous  small 
objects  of  bone,  which  had  been  found  together  with  small 
quantities  of  black  ashes  at  different  depths  below  the 
three  sculptured  tombstones  which  adorned  this  sepulchre. 
It  is  further  confirmed  by  the  fragments  of  the  usual 
Mycenean  pottery  of  later  times,  which  in  this  tomb  were 
mixed  up  with  the  very  ancient  hand-made  or  wheel-made 
vases.  Most  likely  some  one  sank  a  shaft  to  examine 
the  tomb,  struck  the  body  in  question,  plundered  it 
recklessly,  and  for  fear  of  being  detected,  carried  off  his 
booty  in  such  a  hurry  that  he  only  thought  of  sav  ing  the 
large  massive  gold  ornaments,  such  as  the  mask,  the  large 
breast-cover,  the  diadems  and  the  bronze,  swords,  and,  in 
remounting  to  the  surface,  dropped  many  of  the  smaller 
objects,  such  as  the  twelve  golden  buttons,  etc.,  which  I 
found  at  intervals  in  digging  down.  There  can  be  no 
doubt  that  this  larceny  occurred  before  the  capture  of 
Mycenae  by  the  Argives  (468  r.c.)  ;  for,  if  it  had  been 
committed  while  the  later  Greek  city  stood  on  the  top 
of  the  prehistoric  ruins,  I  should  also  have  found  frag- 
ments of  Greek  pottery  in  the  tomb  ;  but  of  these  I  ->a\\ 
no  vestige. 

The  three  bodies  of  this  tomb  lay  with  their  heads  to 
the  east  and  their  feet  to  the  west  ;  all  three  were  of  large 
proportions,  and  appeared  to  have  been  forcibly  squeezed 
into  the  small  space  of  only  5  ft.  6  in.  which  was  left 
for  them  between  the  inner  walls.  The  bones  of  the 
legs,  which  are  almost  uninjured,  are  unusually  large. 
Although  the  head  of  the  first  man,  from  the  south  side, 


ig6 


THE  FIRST  SEPULCHRE. 


[Chap.  IX. 


was  covered  with  a  massive  golden  mask,  his  skull 
crumbled  away  on  being  exposed  to  the  air,  and  only  a 
few  bones  could  be  saved  besides  those  of  the  legs.  The 
same  was  the  case  with  the  second  body,  which  had  been 
plundered  in  antiquity. 

But  of  the  third  body,  which  lay  at  the  north  end  of 
the  tomb,  the  round  face,  with  all  its  flesh,  had  been 
wonderfully  preserved  under  its  ponderous  golden  mask  ; 
there  was  no  vestige  of  hair,  but  both  eyes  were  perfectly 
visible,  also  the  mouth,  which,  owing  to  the  enormous 
weight  that  had  pressed  upon  it,  was  wide  open,  and 
showed  thirty-two  beautiful  teeth.  From  these,  all  the 
physicians  who  came  to  see  the  body  were  led  to 
believe  that  the  man  must  have  died  at  the  early  age  of 
thirty-five.  The  nose  was  entirely  gone.  The  body 
having  been  too  long  for  the  space  between  the  two  inner 
walls  of  the  tomb,  the  head  had  been  pressed  in  such  a 
way  on  the  breast,  that  the  upper  part  of  the  shoulders 
was  nearly  in  a  horizontal  line  with  the  vertex  of  the  head. 
Notwithstanding  the  large  golden  breast-plate,  so  little  had 
been  preserved  of  the  breast,  that  the  inner  side  of  the 
spine  was  visible  in  many  places.  In  its  squeezed  and 
mutilated  state,  the  body  measured  only  i  ft.  \\  in.  from 
the  top  of  the  head  to  the  beginning  of  the  loins ;  the 
breadth  of  the  shoulders  did  not  exceed  i  ft.  in.,  and 
the  breadth  of  the  chest  i  ft.  3  in.  ;  but  the  large  thigh- 
bones could  leave  no  doubt  regarding  the  real  proportions 
of  the  body.  Such  had  been  the  pressure  of  the  debris 
and  stones,  that  the  body  had  been  reduced  to  a  thickness 
of  1  in.  to  ii  in.  The  colour  of  the  body  resembled  very 
much  that  of  an  Egyptian  mummy.  The  forehead  was 
ornamented  with  a  plain  round  leaf  of  gold,  and  a  still 
larger  one  was  lying  on  the  right  eye ;  I  further  observed 
a  large  and  a  small  gold  leaf  on  the  breast  below  the  large 
golden  breast-cover,  and  a  large  one  just  above  the  right 
thigh. 


1876.]  A  WELL  PRESERVED  HUMAN  BODY.  297 

The  news  that  the  tolerably  well  preserved  body  of  a 
man  of  the  mythic  heroic  age  had  been  found,  covered 
with  golden  ornaments,  spread  like  wildfire  through  the 
Argolid,  and  people  came  by  thousands  from  Argos, 
Nauplia,  and  the  villages  to  see  the  wonder.    But,  nobody 


No.  454.    The  upper  part  ol  I  Body  found  in  the  First  Tomb 
From  an  Oil  Painting  made  directly  after  its  discovery. 

being  able  to  give  advice  how  to  preserve  the  body,  I  sent 
for  a  painter  to  get  at  least  an  oil-painting  made,  for  I  was 
afraid  that  the  body  would  crumble  to  pieces.  Thus  I  am 
enabled  to  give  a  faithful  likeness  of  the  body,  as  it  looked 
after  all  the  golden  ornaments  had  been  removed.    But  to 


38 


298  THE  FIRST  SEPULCHRE.  [Chap.  IX. 


my  great  joy,  it  held  out  for  two  days,  when  a  druggist 
from  Argos,  Spiridon  Nicolaou  by  name,  rendered  it  hard 
and  solid  by  pouring  on  it  alcohol,  in  which  he  had  dis- 
solved gum-sandarac.  As  there  appeared  to  be  no  pebbles 
below  it  it  was  thought  that  it  would  be  possible  to  lift  it 
on  an  iron  plate  ;  but  this  was  a  mistake,  because  it  was 
soon  discovered  that  there  was  the  usual  layer  of  pebbles 
below  the  body,  and  all  of  these  having  been  more  or  less 
pressed  into  the  soft  rock  by  the  enormous  weight  which 
had  been  lying  for  ages  upon  them,  all  attempts  made  to 
squeeze  in  the  iron  plate  below  the  pebble-stones,  so  as  to 
be  able  to  lift  them  together  with  the  body,  utterly  failed. 
There  remained,  therefore,  no  other  alternative  than  to 
cut  a  small  trench  into  the  rock  all  round  the  body,  and 
make  thence  a  horizontal  incision,  so  as  to  cut  out  a  slab, 
two  inches  thick,  to  lift  it  with  the  pebble-stones  and  the 
body,  to  put  it  upon  a  strong  plank,  to  make  around  the 
latter  a  strong  box,  and  to  send  this  to  the  village  of 
Charvati,  whence  it  will  be  forwarded  to  Athens  as  soon 
as  the  Archaeological  Society  shall  have  got  a  suitable 
locality  for  the  Mycenean  antiquities.  With  the  miserable 
instruments  alone  available  here  it  was  no  easy  task  to 
detach  the  large  slab  horizontally  from  the  rock,  but  it  was 
still  much  more  difficult  to  bring  it  in  the  wooden  box 
from  the  deep  sepulchre  to  the  surface,  and  to  transport 
it  on  men's  shoulders  for  more  than  a  mile  to  Charvati. 
But  the  capital  interest  which  this  body  of  the  remote 
heroic  age  has  for  science,  and  the  buoyant  hope  of 
preserving  it,  made  all  the  labour  appear  light.* 

The  now  nearly  mummified  body  was  decorated  with  a 
golden  shoulder-belt  (TeXa/Awv),  4  ft.  long  and  if  in.  broad, 


*  I  think  it  my  duty  to  state  here  that  the  Archaeological  Society  in 
Athens  has  alone  incurred  all  the  trouble  and  expense  of  drugging  the 
body  so  as  to  render  it  hard  and  solid,  and  raising  it  from  the  sepulchre 
and  carrying  it  to  the  village  of  Charvati,  and  that  I  have  had  no 
trouble  or  expense  from  this  operation. 


1876.]  GOLDEN  SHOULDER-BELT.  299 

which,  for  some  cause  or  other,  was  not  in  its  place,  for  it 
now  lay  across  the  loins  of  the  body,  and  extended  in  a 
straight  line  far  to  the  right  of  it.  In  its  midst  is  suspended, 
and  firmly  attached,  the  fragment  of  a  double-edged  bronze 
sword  (see  No.  455),  and  to  this  latter  was  accidentally 


No.  455.    A  Golden  Shoulder-belt  lr«A<mioi')1  with  a  fragment  of  the  two-edged  Sword. 
Sepulchre  I.    Size  i  :  4. 

attached  a  beautifully-polished  perforated  object  of  rock 
crystal,  in  form  of  a  jar  (ntOos),  with  two  silver  handles. 
It  is  pierced  in  its  entire  length  by  a  silver  pin.  This  little 
object  has  unfortunately  been  detached  in  removing  the 
treasure  from  Charvati  to  Athens,  and  thus  I  represent 


3°° 


THE  FIRST  SEPULCHRE, 


[Chap.  IX. 


No.  456. 
A  small  Jar  of  rock  crystal 
Sepulchre  I.    Actual  size. 


it  separately  (No.  456).  Together  with  the  shoulder-belt 
and  the  little  crystal  jar  was  found  the  small  object  of 
rock-crystal  (No.  457),  which  has  the 
shape  of  a  funnel.  In  the  extremity 
of  the  shoulder-belt,  to  the  left  of  the 
spectator,  are  two  perforations ;  at  the 
other  end  there  has  probably  been  a 
clasp,  because  there  are  no  perforations ; 
on  the  fragment  of  the  sword  we  see 
one  of  those  small  shield-like  or  button- 
like golden  disks,  with  an  ornamenta- 
tion of  repoiLss6  work,  which  have 
decorated  the  sheaths  of  the  swords  in  uninterrupted  rows, 
their  size  being  always  determined  by  the  breadth  of  the 
sheaths.  The  disk  before  us  is  divided  by 
three  concentric  circles  into  three  circular 
compartments,  of  which  the  outer  and  the 
central  one  represent  a  number  of  ornaments 
resembling  horse-shoes.  A  glance  at  this 
shoulder-belt  will  convince  every  one  that  it 
is  by  far  too  thin  and  fragile  to  have  been 
worn  by  living  men.  Besides,  I  feel  certain 
that  no  living  warrior  has  ever  gone  to  battle 
with  swords  in  sheaths  of  wood  ornamented 
on  either  side  with  rows  of  gold  plates,  which  are  merely 
glued  on  the  wood.  Thus,  we  may  consider  it  beyond 
all  doubt  that  a  great  part  of  all  the  golden  ornaments 
have  been  expressly  prepared  for  funeral  use.  There  was 
also  found  an  alabaster  stand  for  a  vase. 

The  massive  golden  breast-plate  of  this  same  body  is 
perfectly  plain,  and  it  is  therefore  unnecessary  to  engrave 
it.  It  is  i5f  in.  long  and  gh  in.  broad;  it  has  no  orna- 
mentation, but  two  protruding  breasts  can  be  distinctly 
seen ;  they  are  not,  however,  in  the  middle,  as  they  ought 
to  be,  but  more  to  the  right  of  the  spectator.  While 
speaking  of  breast-covers,  I  may  as  well  give  here  the 


No.  457. 
A  funnel-shaped 
object,  of  rock  cry- 
stal.   Sepulchre  I. 
Actual  size. 


1876.]  GOLDEN  BREAST -COVER.  301 

breast-cover  of  the  body  at  the  southern  end  of  this  first 
tomb  (No.  458).     It  is  1   ft.  o,  in.  long  and  1  ft.  2?  in. 


broad.  Here  the  two  breasts  are  well  represented  by 
two    protruding    shield-like   bosses,   and    the  whole  re- 


3°2 


THE  FIRST  SEPULCHRE. 


[Chap.  IX. 


maining  space  is  richly  ornamented  with  beautiful  spirals 
in  repousse"  work. 

The  best  preserved  parts  of  the  same  body,  at  the 
southern  end  of  the  tomb,  are  two  large  bones  and  a 
small  bone.  On  the  latter,  which  is 
probably  an  arm-bone,  is  still  attached 
a  broad  golden  ribbon,  with  a  splendid 
ornamentation  of  repoussi  work  (No. 

459)- 

I  return  to  the  body  at  the  northern 
extremity.  To  its  right  lay  the  two 
bronze  swords  represented  under  No. 
460,  and  close  to  them  all  the  other 
objects  just  as  we  see  them  in  this 
engraving.  The  handle  of  the  upper 
sword  is  of  bronze,  but  thickly  plated 
with  gold,  which  is  all  over  covered 
with  a  magnificent  intaglio  work  of 
the  most  varied  description.  On  the 
upper  part  of  the  handle,  where  the 
blade  issues  from  it,  is  fastened  a 
broad  curved  gold  plate  with  splendid 
intaglio  work,  similar  to  that  repre- 
sented below  (No.  462),*  of  which  we 
only  here  recognise  the  exact  use. 
No  doubt  this  sword  has  had  a  wooden 
sheath,  which  must  have  been  orna- 
mented with  the  long  gold  plate,  with  a  ring  and  much 
resembling  the  shape  of  a  man,  which  we  see  to  the  right  of 
it.  This  gold  plate  b  similar  to  that  represented  under 
No.  369.1  The  sheath  must  have  been  further  adorned 
with  the  golden  button,  with  engraved  concentric  circles, 
which  we  see  close  to  the  blade.  Much  still  richer  has  evi- 
dently been,  the  ornamentation  of  the  other  bronze  sword, 


No.  459. 
Small  Bone,  with  the  fragment  of 

a  splendidly  ornamented  Gold 
Ribbon.  Sepulchre  I.  Size  3:  8. 


See  p.  305. 


t  See  p.  253. 


1876.]         WONDERFULLY  ORNAMENTED  SWORDS.  303 


for  its  wooden  sheath  must 
evidently  have  been  adorned, 
in  its  entire  length,  on  both 
sides,  with  a  series  of  those 
large  golden  buttons  with  a 
magnificent  intaglio  work  of 
spirals  which  we  see  below 
and  on  the  right  side  of  the 
sword.  The  sheath  has  evi- 
dently been  also  adorned  with 
the  tubular  golden  plate,  or- 
namented with  spirals  in  in- 
taglio work,  which  we  still  see 
around  the  sword. 

The  handle  of  this  sword 
must  have  been  of  wood, 
because  it  has  entirely  dis- 
appeared, and  it  must  ne- 
cessarily have  been  adorned 
with  the  two  quadrangular 
golden  plates  which  we  see 
lying,  still  closely  joined  to- 
gether, in  the  very  place 
where  the  knob  of  the  handle- 
ought  to  have  been  ;  only  on 
the  small  side,  which  is  turned 
towards  the  spectator,  the  two 
plates  are  slightly  disjoined. 
They  are  perfectly  similar  in 
size  and  shape  to  that  shown 
a  little  later  under  No.  472  ;* 
both  have  exactly  the  same 
ornamentation  in  rcponssd 
work  of  interwoven  spirals; 
and,  as  on  No.  472,  we  see 

*  See  p.  311. 


THE  FIRST  SEPULCHRE. 


[Chap.  IX. 


in  their  long  sides  the  marks  of  a  number  of  small  pins, 
which  must  have  served  to  attach  both  plates  to  a  piece 
of  wood  which  stuck  between  them,  and  of  which  some 
traces  remain.    This  piece  of  wood  must  have  been  very 

thin,  for  otherwise  the  two  plates 
could  not  after  its  disappearance 
have  fallen  together  so  exactly  as 
to  appear  still  joined.  Certainly 
they  must  have  served  as  orna- 
ments of  the  sword-handle,  but 
how  this  was  done  is  altogether 
inexplicable  to  me.    I  find  it  im- 
possible to  suppose  that  the  sword- 
handle  terminated  in  a  thin  piece 
of  wood,  so  as  to  be  fastened 
between  the  two  plates ;  besides, 
this  is  contradicted  by  their  raised 
borders.     With  the  two  plates 
was  found  a  bead  of  amber,  the 
presence  of  which  here  must  be 
only  accidental,  for  of  course  it 
can  have    nothing  in  common 
with  the  swords.  To  one  of  these 
swords  was  doubtless  attached  the 
golden  tassel  represented  under 
No.  461,  which  I  found  near  them. 
Probably  all  these  weapons  had 
been  suspended  on  a  belt  of  em- 
broidered work  which  has  disap- 
peared. 

At  a  distance  of  hardly  more 
than  one  foot  to  the  right  of  the  body  I  found  eleven 
bronze  swords,  of  which  nine  had  suffered  more  or  less 
from  moisture;  but  the  other  two  were  pretty  well  pre- 
served. One  of  them  has  the  enormous  length  of  3  ft. 
2  in.,  the  other  of  2  ft.  10  in.    With  the  swords  I  found 


No.  461. 
A  Gold  Sword-tassel. 
Sepulchre  I.    Size  5  :  8. 


1876.J  OBJECTS  FOUND  WITH  THE  SWORDS. 


the  two  golden  plates  represented  under  No.  462,  both  of 
which  have  belonged  to  sword-handles  j  that  to  the  left 
having  been  on  the  upper  part  of  the  handle,  to  which 
it  was  attached  with  no  less  than  twelve  gold  pins,  of 
which  five  with  large  globular  heads  are  still  visible.  This 
object  is  so  thickly  covered  with  ashes  of  the  funeral  fire 
that  but  little  of  its  spiral  ornamentation  in  intaglio  can 
be  discerned.  The  other  golden  plate  has  been  used  as 
the  cover  of  the  wooden  sword-handle,  and  it  is  perfectly 
similar  to  those  which  we  passed  in  review  in  describing 
the  discoveries  in  the  fourth  tomb  (see  Nos.  430,  431). 
I  further  found  with  the  swords  three  tubes  of  gold 


No.  462.    Gulden  Covers  uf  Sword-handles,  with  intaglio  ornamentation.    Sepulchre  I. 

Sire  4  :  <). 


plate,  one  1  a i  in.  long,  another  ioi  in.  long,  both  con- 
taining remnants  of  wood,  and  the  third  5;?  in.  long. 
There  were  also  124  large  round  gold  burtons,  plain  or 
with  splendid  intaglio  work,  two  of  which  are  two  inches  in 
diameter,  and  four  of  the  size  of  five-franc  pieces ;  the  other 
1 18  are  smaller.  Further,  six  large  splendidly-ornamented 
golden  buttons  in  the  form  of  crosses,  three  of  which  are 
3  in.  long  and  i\  in.  broad.  All  these  buttons  consist 
either  of  fiat  pieces  of  wood  covered  with  gold  plates,  and 
in  this  case  they  have  invariably  been  pasted  or  soldered 
as  embellishments  on  sword-sheaths  or  other  objects,  or 
they  are  real  wood  buttons  resembling  our  present  shirt- 
studs  and  covered  with  gold  plates,  and  in  this  case  they 
must  have  been  used  on  clothes.     The  magnificently 


39 


306 


THE  FIRST  SEPULCHRE. 


[Chap.  IX. 


engraved  ornamentation  of  both  these  kinds  of  buttons 
can  leave  no  doubt  as  to  the  importance  attached  to  them. 
I  may  add  that  in  this  tomb  not  only  all  the  cruciform 
gold  buttons,  but  also  all  the  very  large  round  gold 
buttons,  have  on  their  lower  side  a  flat  piece  of  wood. 
463  464 


4 


 4^5  

M 

III 

IP 

1  i  1 

WW* 

466 


Nos.  463-466.    Bronze  Battle-axe  and  Swords.    Sepulchre  I.    Size  1  :  4,  about. 

With  the  body  which  lay  in  the  middle  of  the  tomb 
were  found  some  round  leaves  of  gold  with  an  impressed 
ornamentation,  and  the  remnants  of  a  wooden  comb. 
With  the  body  at  the  south  end  of  the  sepulchre  I  found 
fifteen  bronze  swords,  ten  of  which  lay  at  his  feet.  Eight 
of  them  are  of  very  large  size,  and  tolerably  well  preserved. 


1876]  A  HEAP  OF  BRONZE  WEAPONS.  307 

A  large  heap  of  more  or  less  broken  bronze  swords, 
which  may  have  represented  more  than  sixty  entire  ones, 
was  found  on  the  west  side,  between  the  last-mentioned 
body  and  the  middle  one  ;  also  a  few  bronze  knives  and 
lances.  Very  remarkable  is  the  battle-axe,  No.  463,  for  I 
have  never  yet  found  this  shape  here,  but  I  very  frequently 
found  it  in  Troy,  and  fourteen  of  them  were  contained  in 
the  Trojan  treasure.*  Compared  with  our  present  axes, 
this  Mycenean  and  the 
Trojan  battle-axes  have  no 
hole  in  which  the  wooden 
handle  could  be  fixed,  and 
thus  they  had  evidently 
been  fastened  in  or  on 
the  handle  instead  of  the 
handle  being  fastened  in 
them.  Some  of  the  swords 
show  traces  of  having  been 
gilded;  several  of  them  have 
golden  pins  at  the  handle. 
The  other  weapons  shown 
under  Nos.  464,  465,  and 
466,  are  short  swords.  At 
the  lower  end  of  No.  465 
are  remnants  of  gold- 
plating.  No.  407. 

j       *  s*  *         ■  t      J  Sword-h.mdlc,  plated  with  gold,  richly  urnu- 

1  also  round,  with  the  memcd.  scpuichrd.  iumm 

body  at  the  south  end  of 

the  tomb,  the  large  handle  with  a  fragment  of  a  bronze 
sword  represented  under  No.  467.  This  handle  is  covered 
with  thick  gold  plate  richly  ornamented  with  intaglio  work, 
which  can  be  well  distinguished,  though  the  handle  is 
very  dirty  from  the  smoke  and  ashes  of  the  funeral  pyre. 
The  ornamentation  is  exactly  the  same  on  both  sides.  In 


*  See  'Troy  and  its  Remains,'  pp.  330,  331. 


3o8 


THE  FIRST  SEPULCHRE. 


[Chap.  IX. 


the  hollow  of  the  handle  is  still  preserved  part  of  the  wood 
with  which  it  was  once  filled. 

I  also  found  with  the  body  at  the  southern  end  a  large 
quantity  of  amber  beads  and  five  small  plain  cylinders  of 
gold  plate  (in  one  of  which  still  sticks  a  piece  of  wood), 
which  have  evidently  covered  a  stick,  perhaps  a  sceptre  ; 
further  seven  large  sword-handle  knobs  of  alabaster  and 
one  of  wood,  all  ornamented  with  gold 
nails ;  a  small  piece  of  gold  in  the  form  of  a 
bar  of  a  watch-chain  (see  No.  468),  which 
cannot  but  have  served  as  a  sort  of  clasp 
to  a  shoulder-belt  (reXafxaip) ;  thirty-seven 
round  gold  leaves  of  various  sizes,  twenty- 
one  fragments  of  gold  leaves,  two  frag- 
mentary silver  vases,  a  pair  of  silver  tongs 
or  tweezers  (see  No.  469),  and  a  large  vase 
of  alabaster,  with  a  mouthpiece  of  bronze, 
plated  with  gold.  The  perforations  on  three 
sides  in  the  upper  part  of  the  body  can 
leave  no  doubt  that  this  vase  has  had  three 
handles,  and  the  large  round  hole  with  four 
small  perforations  in  front  show  that  it  has 
had  a  pipe.  In  this  vase  I  found  thirty-two 
small  and  three  large  round  gold  buttons 
with  rich  intaglio  patterns,  as  well  as  two 
gold  buttons  in  the  shape  of  crosses,  each 
with  two  very  small  golden  handles ;  further 
a  large  gold  button  of  conical  shape,  and  a  wedge-shaped 
golden  tube. 

The  following  engravings  represent  three  more  of  those 
wonderful  gold  plates,  two  of  which  we  have  already  passed 
in  review  in  explaining  the  objects  engraved  under  No.  460. 
There  were  found  twelve  of  them  in  all,  to  the  right  and 
left  of  the  body  at  the  northern  extremity  of  the  tomb. 
No.  470  represents  a  lion  chasing  a  stag  ;  the  four  feet  of 
the  former  are  in  a  horizontal  line  to  show  the  great  speed 


No: 

A  curious  Object  of 
Gold,  and  Silver 
Tongs.    Sepulchre  I. 
Actual  size. 


1876.]  WONDERFUL  GOLD  PLATES.  309 

with  which  he  is  running;  he  has  just  overtaken  the  stag, 
which  sinks  down  before  him,  and  his  jaws  are  wide  open 
to  devour  it.  The  head  of  the  lion,  as  well  as  the  mane, 
are  pretty  well  represented.    On  the  other  hand,  the  repre- 


No.  470.    A  Guld  Plate,  with  Intaglio  of  a  Lion  chasing  a  Stag.    Sepulchre  I.    Actual  size. 


sentation  of  the  stag,  which  has  no  horns,  is  clumsy  and 
indistinct  ;  beyond  it  we  see  an  animal  with  spines  and  a 
long  fishtail,  probably  a  sea  monster.  \bo\e  the  lion  are 
represented  two  long  palm-fronds,  and  below  it  the  crowns 
of  two  palm-trees  and  a  palm-frond. 


No.  471.    A  Gold  Plate,  with  Intaglio  of  a  Lion  catching  a  Stag.    Sepulchre  I.    Actual  size. 

No.  4  7 1  represents  nearly  the  same  subject :  we  see 
again  a  lion  running  at  fulL  speed  and  catching  a  stag, 
which  is  represented  with  the  body  turned  towards  his 
pursuer  and  with  his  head  in  the  opposite  direction  ;  he 


310  THE  FIRST  SEPULCHRE.  [Chap.  IX. 

stands  on  his  hind-legs,  into  which  the  lion,  with  open 
jaws,  is  just  biting.  The  fore-feet  of  the  stag  are  uplifted, 
and  his  lower  feet  protrude  at  a  right  angle  from  the  knee. 
Just  before  the  uplifted  loins  of  the  stag  we  see  the  wide- 
open  jaws  of  a  large  cow-head  with  two  long  horns  of  the 
crescent  form  and  two  enormous  eyes,  to  which  I  call 
particular  attention.  Between  the  two  large  horns  we  see 
two  smaller  ones,  the  space  between  which  is  filled  with 
small  objects  in  the  form  of  figs ;  similar  objects  are  seen 
between  the  small  and  the  large  horns.  Though  the  artist 
has  given  us  a  front  view  of  the  cow-head,  yet  he  represents 
its  jaws  in  profile.  To  the  right  of  the  cow-head  we  see 
five  long  palm-fronds,  below  which,  in  the  corner  to  the 
right  of  the  spectator,  is  an  object  which  I  cannot  recog- 
nise ;  it  resembles  a  bird's  foot. 

The  whole  scene  certainly  appears  to  be  symbolic. 

I  think  there  can  be  no  reasonable  doubt  that  the  cow- 
head  represents  Hera  Boopis,*  the  patron  deity  of  Mycenae, 
and  that  when,  in  later  times,  this  goddess  received  a  female 
head,  her  enormous  cow's  eyes  alone  survived  of  her  former 
cow-shape  ;  because  her  sole  characteristic  epithet  /3oco7rt9, 
consecrated  as  it  was  by  the  use  of  ages,  was  thenceforward 
indiscriminately  used  for  both  goddesses  and  mortal  women 
to  designate  large  eyes.  Thus,  for  example,  Clymene,  one 
of  Helen's  female  servants,  is  called  by  Homer  ox-eyed  f 
(/3oaj7r(,<j).  Hera's  representation  here,  with  a  double  pair 
of  horns  and  the  fruits  between  the  four  horns,  can,  I  think, 
have  no  other  purpose  than  to  glorify  her.  I  further 
believe  that  the  lion  represents  the  house  of  the  Pelopids, 
and  perhaps  Agamemnon  himself,  and  that  the  stag  repre- 
sents a  sacrifice  offered  by  the  lion  (the  house  of  the 
Pelopids  or  Agamemnon  himself)  to  the  patron  deity  of 

*  Homer's  fioCnris  ttotviu.  "Hprj,  "  our  lady  Hera  with  the  head  of  a 
cow;"  hence  "cow-faced;"  and  then,  with  large  eyes  like  a  cow,  or 
"ox-eyed."    (See  Note  at  the  end  of  Chapter  I.) 

t  //.  III.  144. 


1876.]  MASSIVE  GOLD  MASK.  311 

the  town,  and  the  open  jaws  of  the  cow-head  may  have 
the  meaning  that  she  benignantly  receives  the  sacrifice. 

The  remaining  plate  (No.  472)  represents  the  same 
spiral  ornamentation  which  we  have  so  frequently  passed 
in  review. 

To  the  reverse  side  of  these  wonderful  golden  plates 
there  sticks  a  good  deal  of  a  blackish  matter,  perhaps  a 
sort  of  cement,  which  must  have  served  to  attach  them  to 
flat  pieces  of  wood,  on  each  side  of  which  must  have  been 
one  plate.  This  opinion  seems  also  to  be  confirmed  by 
the  marks  of  nails  which  we  see  in  the  rims  of  the  plates, 


No.  472.    Gold  Plate,  with  a  spiral  ornamcntatiun  in  Intaglio.    Sepulchre  I.    Actual  sire. 


for  the  nails  can,  of  course,  only  have  been  used  to  fasten 
them  to  a  softer  substance. 

No.  473  represents  the  massive  golden  mask  of  the 
same  body  at  the  north  end  of  the  first  tomb  ;*  unfortu- 
nately, the  lower  part  of  the  forehead  has  been  so  much 
pressed  upon  the  eyes  and  the  nose,  that  the  face  is  dis- 
figured, and  the  features  cannot  be  well  distinguished. 
Highly  characteristic  is  the  large  round  head,  the  enormous 
forehead,  and  the  small  mouth  with  the  thin  lips. 

In  a  perfect  state  of  preservation,  on  the  other  hand, 
is  the  massive  golden  mask  of  the  body  at  the  south  end  of 


*  See  Vignette  to  Chapter  X.,  p.  333. 


312,  THE  FIRST  SEPULCHRE.  [Chap.  IX. 

the  tomb  (No.  474).*  Its  features  are  altogether  Hellenic 
and  I  call  particular  attention  to  the  long  thin  nose, 
running  in  a  direct  line  with  the  forehead,  which  is  but 
small.  The  eyes,  which  are  shut,  are  large,  and  well 
represented  by  the  eyelids ;  very  characteristic  is  also  the 
large  mouth  with  its  well-proportioned  lips.  The  beard 
also  is  well  represented,  and  particularly  the  moustaches, 
whose  extremities  are  turned  upwards  to  a  point,  in  the 
form  of  crescents.f  This  circumstance  seems  to  leave 
no  doubt  that  the  ancient  Myceneans  used  oil  or  a  sort 
of  pomatum  in  dressing  their  hair.  Both  masks  are  of 
repotisse  work,  and  certainly  nobody  will  for  a  moment 
doubt  that  they  were  intended  to  represent  the  portraits  of 
the  deceased,  whose  faces  they  have  covered  for  ages. 

The  question  now  naturally  arises : — have  they  been 
made  in  the  lifetime,  or  after  the  death,  of  the  persons  ? 
Probably  after  their  death :  but  then  we  wonder  again  how 
the  masks  can  have  been  made  so  quickly ;  because  here,  as 
in  all  hot  climates,  the  dead  are  buried  within  twenty-four 
hours  after  their  decease ;  and  this  must  have  been  the 
custom  here  at  all  times.  If  Homer  leaves  the  bodies  of 
Patroclus  and  Hector  for  ten  or  twelve  days  unburied,  it 
was  owing  to  peculiar  circumstances ;  and  if  they  remained 
well  preserved,  it  was  that  Thetis  dropped  ambrosia  into 
the  veins  of  the  former,  and  Apollo  into  those  of  the  latter. 
However  that  may  have  been  with  the  bodies  before  us, 
we  are  amazed  at  the  skill  of  the  ancient  Mycenean  gold- 
smiths, who  could  model  the  portraits  of  men  in  massive 
gold  plate,  and  consequently  could  do  as  much  as  any 
modern  goldsmith  would  be  able  to  perform. 

But  this  skill  of  the  early  Mycenean  goldsmiths 
shows  a  great  practice  in  similar  work,  and  it  can  leave 
no  doubt  that  they  were  preceded  by  a  school  of  artists 


*  See  Vignette  to  this  Chapter,  p.  289. 
t  "  There  is  nothing  new  under  the  sun." 


1876.]  CURIOUS  GOLD  CUPS.  313 

which  had  flourished  for  ages  before  such  work  could  he 
produced. 

There  was  further  found  to  the  right  of  the  body  at 
the  north  end  of  the  sepulchre  the  very  large  gold 
drinking-cup,  with  one  handle,  represented  under  No.  475. 
It  is  6  in.  in  diameter,  and  as  much  in  height ;  it  has 
a  beautiful  ornamentation  in  repoussd  work,  divided  by  a 
rope-like  horizontal  band  into  two  compartments.  The 
upper  one  represents  a  row  of  arches,  founded  as  it  were 


No.  475.    Large  Gold  Cup.    Sepulchre  I.    Size  3  :  7,  about. 


on  high  pilasters  of  square  cut  stones,  and  much  resem- 
bling a  Roman  aqueduct;  the  lower  compartment  contains 
a  wedge-like  ornamentation. 

In  the  same  tomb  I  found  another  very  large  golden 
cup,  which  likewise  has  only  one  large  broad  handle 
(No.  476).  It  is  5i?  in.  in  diameter,  and  is  likewise  divided 
by  a  horizontal  band  into  two  compartments,  both  of 
which  are  decorated  in  repousst  work  with  two  parallel 
horizontal  rows  of  beautiful  spirals.  In  these  occur  a 
large  number  of  that  curious  cross,  which  is  so  frequently 
met  with  in  the  ruins  of  Troy,  and  which  is  thought 


40 


3*4 


THE  FIRST  SEPULCHRE. 


[Chap.  IX. 


to  be  the  symbol  of  the  holy  fire,  the  Arani  of  the 
Brahmans.* 

Another  large  and  splendid  thick  gold  goblet  found 
here  is  represented  under  No.  477.  It  is  ornamented  in 
repousse'  work  with  three  lions,  which  are  represented  as 
running  with  great  velocity.  This  goblet  represents  again 
the  type  of  all  the  terra-cotta  goblets  at  Mycenae,  with 
but  one  exception.    (See  Nos.  83,  84,  88.)   The  handles  of 


No.  476.    Large  Gold  Cup.    Sepulchre  I.    Half-size,  about. 


all  these  golden  goblets  are  fastened  to  the  rim  and  body 
of  the  vessels  by  gold  pins  with  large  flat  heads. 

There  were  further  found  two  golden  goblets,  one  of 
which  is  likewise  of  thick  gold  plate,  but  it  is  nevertheless 
much  crumpled  ;  it  has  a  beautiful  massive  handle,  of  a 
shape  which  we  have  repeatedly  passed  in  review  in  the 
fourth  tomb.  The  other  gold  goblet  has  an  ornamenta- 
tion in  repousse  work  of  two  double  parallel  rope-like 
bands ;  the  upper  compartment  representing  a  horizontal 


*  See  'Troy  and  its  Remains,'  Plate  XXIV.  Nos.  348,  350,  351. 


1876.]  GOLD  AND  SILVER  GOBLETS.  315 

zigzag  line,  united  by  vertical  bands  of  horizontal  strokes 
to  the  upper  double  rope-like  band.  The  ornamentation 
has  a  remarkable  resemblance  to  the  form  of  the  ogive- 
like passages  in  Mycenae  and  Tiryns.  In  this  latter  goblet 
sticks  a  very  thin  and  much  crumpled  smaller  golden 
drinking-cup. 

There  were  also  found  four  silver  goblets ;  one  of  them 


No.  477.    A  Golden  Goblet.    Sepulchre  L    Siic  7  :  10,  about. 


has  a  handle,  but  no  ornamentation  ;  the  second  is  orna- 
mented in  rcpoussd  work  with  bands  of  double  lines,  which 
terminate  at  the  top  in  bows.  The  other  two  goblets  are 
very  large,  but  broken  and  defaced  ;  the  one,  whose  sole 
ornamentation  is  a  raised  horizontal  band,  is  still  filled 
with  ashes  of  the  funeral  pyre.  The  second  of  these  is 
ornamented  with  a  number  of  furrow-like  horizontal  bands, 
and  in  it  sticks  a  smaller  silver  cup.    To  the  bottom  oi 


3l6  THE  FIRST  SEPULCHRE.  [Chap.  IX. 

this  goblet  is  still  attached  one  of  the  pebbles  with  which 
the  bottom  of  the  tomb  is  strewn. 

There  was  also  found  in  this  first  sepulchre,  close  to 


No.  478.    The  top  and  lower  part  of  a  large  Silver  Vase,  from  the  First  Sepulchre. 
Size  4  :  10,  about. 


the  body  in  question,  a  large  silver  vase,  2  ft.  6  in.  deep  and 
1  ft.  8  in.  in  diameter  in  the  body ;  but,  unfortunately,  it 


.876.] 


A  SPLENDID  SILVER  VASE. 


3 1 7 


had  been  in  contact  with  a  saline  substance,  which  had 
converted  the  silver  into  chloride,  in  consequence  of  which 
the  vase  is  broken  into  many  pieces.  No.  478  represents 
the  upper  and  the  lower  part  of  it,  put  together.  Its  whole 
body  was  ornamented  with  a  repousse"  work  of  interwoven 
spirals ;  the  lower  part  with 
horizontal  parallel  flutings  ; 
but  it  must  be  distinctly 
understood  that  we  see  in 
the  engraving  only  the  inner 
side  of  the  lower  part.  The 
mouth,  as  well  as  the  band 
marked  with  strokes  on  the 
upper  part  of  the  body, 
are  plated  with  copper,  and 
the  copper  had  been  plated 
with  gold.  The  bottom  is 
entirely  of  copper,  pro- 
bably in  order  to  give  more 
solidity  to  the  vessel;  very 
likely  the  rim  of  this  copper 
bottom  had  also  been  plated 
with  gold.  Of  this  vase, 
therefore,  it  may  be  said  that 
the  early  artist  endeavoured 
to  the  utmost  to  combine 
solidity  with  splendour. 

There  was  also  found  the 
large  drinking-cup  of  alabaster  represented  under  No.  479  ; 
it  is  \o\  in.  high,  and  its  form  is  not  unlike  our  present 
glasses. 

There  were  further  found  five  plates  of  gold  in  the 
form  of  double  eagles,  of  which  I  represent  two  under  No. 
480  ;  all  of  them  are  of  rcpoussd  work,  and  have  exactly 
the  same  size  and  shape.   The  figures  of  the  eagles  are  true 


No  479- 

A  large  lloblcl  of  Alabaster.    Sepulchre  I. 
Size  3  :  8,  about. 


3 18  THE  FIRST  SEPULCHRE.  [Chap.  IX. 

to  nature,  except  for  a  spiral  line  which  protrudes  from 
their  neck;  just  below  this  spiral  we  see  a  long  serpent 
across  the  bodies  of  the  two  eagles :  both  the  serpent  and 
the  spiral  may  have  a  symbolic  meaning.  The  eagles  are 
leaning  against  each  other  with  their  whole  body,  and  even 
with  their  claws,  but  are  turning  their  heads  in  opposite 


No.  480.    Double  Eagles  in  Gold  Plate.    Sepulchre  I.    Actual  size. 


directions ;  above  the  heads  we  see  a  long  tube,  which  can 
only  have  served  to  draw  the  ornaments  on  a  string  for  a 
necklace. 

There  were  also  found  five  large  shield-like  disks,  and 
a  small  one,  of  thin  gold  plate,  with  an  ornamentation  in 
repousst  work,  representing  in  the  centre  a  star,  and  around 


1876.]  GOLDEN  SHIELD-LIKE  DISKS.  3  I  9 

it,  within  a  border  of  two  double  circles  of  points,  an 
ornamentation  of  spirals  (see  No.  481).  Further,  two 
whorl-shaped,  hollow  objects  of  gold,  which  fit  together, 
but  whose  use  is  unknown  to  us.  Perfectly  similar  objects 
have  been  represented  under  Nos.  425  and  426.*  Further, 
a  fragmentary  silver  vase,  with  the  beautiful  golden  mouth- 
piece (No.  482)  and  the  golden  handle  (No.  483) ;  both 


No.  481.    Gold  Plate,  with  a  pattern  in  rtpoussf  work.   Sepulchre  [,    Actual  sue. 


having  an  ornamentation  of  repoussd  work.  In  the  mouth- 
piece we  see  the  six  perforations  by  which  it  was  fastened 
with  pins  to  the  neck  of  the  silver  vase,  of  which  we  see  a 
fragment  still  attached  to  the  handle.  There  were  further 
found  two  fragmentary  plain  silver  vases,  of  one  of  which 
the  lower  half  is  preserved  :  also  a  fragmentary  silver 
vase,  with  a  copper  bottom  and  mouthpiece,  which  latter 


*  See  p.  268. 


320 


THE  FIRST  SEPULCHRE. 


[Chap.  IX. 


may  have  probably  been  plated  with  gold.  Also,  a  large 
fragmentary  silver  vase,  with  a  repoussS  work  of  spirals  ; 


No.  482.    Golden  Mouthpiece  of  a  Vase.    Sepulchre  I.    Size  5  :  7,  about. 

and  two  large  disks  of  copper,  plated  with  silver,  which 
probably  belong  to  silver  vases. 

From  the  same  tomb  came 
the  small  cylinder  of  gold  plate 
(No.  484),  which  is  profusely 
covered  with  intaglio  work,  and 
still  contains  a  piece  of  charred 
wood,   to   which  the  cylinder 
was  attached  below  with  three 
gold   pins ;    one  of  these  can 
still  be  seen  to  the  right  of  the 
spectator.    If  we  look  from  the 
top  of  the  cylinder  downward, 
we  see  that  its  upper  part  is  divided  by  horizontal  bands 
of  three  or  four  lines  into  four  compartments,  of  which 
the  upper  one  has  an  ornamentation  of  small  concentric 


No.  483. 

Golden  Vase-handle. 
Sepulchre  I.    Actual  size. 


i876.] 


NUMEROUS  GOLD  BUTTONS. 


321 


circles*  the  second  of  vertical  strokes,  the  third  again  of 
concentric  circles,  and  the  fourth  of  vertical  strokes ;  on 
both  sides  of  this  fourth  compartment  were  golden  pins,  of 
which  the  one  to  the  right  is  still  in  its  place.  The  space 
below  is  divided  by  vertical  bands  into  three  compartments, 
of  which  those  to  the  right  and  left  are  filled  with  an  orna- 
mentation of  spirals,  and  the  middle  one  with  a  tree-like 
band,  from  the  top  of  which  project,  to  the  right  and  left, 
branch-like  spirals  forming  circles,  in 
which  we  again  see  small  spirals:  the 
remaining  space  is  filled  up  with  spirals 
and  closely  joined  wedge-like  ornaments. 
Thus  we  see  on  this  cylinder  not  the 
tenth  part  of  an  inch  unornamented. 

Inclusive  of  the  gold  buttons  already 
mentioned,  there  were  found  in  this  first 
tomb  in  all  340  such  buttons,  from  most 
of  which  the  wooden  mould  has  disap- 
peared, so  that  only  the  gold  plates  re- 
main. Of  these,  eighty-four  are  plain 
and  without  any  ornamentation  ;  namely, 
thirty-five  very  large  ones,  being  2  in. 
in  diameter,  thirty-six  of  a  less  size, 
measuring  1  h  in.  in  diameter,  and  thirteen 
small  ones,  measuring  1  inch  or  less. 
The  remaining  256  gold  buttons  are 
ornamented  with  intaglio  work.  The  total  number  consists 
of  thirteen  very  large  ones  of  2  in.  in  diameter,  thirtv-nine 
of  about  1^  in.  and  194  of  1  in.  or  less,  and  eight  large 
and  two  smaller  ones,  in  form  of  crosses  ;  making  in  all 
ten  cross-shaped  buttons,  all  of  which  have  retained  their 
wooden  moulds.  As  before-mentioned,  two  of  the  cross- 
like buttons  have  each  two  small  gold  handles.    Not  to 


No.  <84. 
A  Cylinder  of  Cold  Plate 
Sepulchre  I.  Actual  sire. 


*  Owing  to  the  ashes  and  smoke  with  which  the  cylinder  is 
covered,  the  upper  row  of  circles  did  not  appear  in  the  photograph. 


322 


THE  FIRST  SEPULCHRE. 


[Chap.  IX. 


fatigue  the  reader,  I  give  no  engravings  of  the  plain  buttons, 
and  even  of  the  richly  ornamented  ones  I  represent  in  the 
accompanying  plates  only  those  whose  ornamentation  shows 
a  variance  from  that  of  the  types  of  the  buttons  of  the 
Fourth  Tomb.  The  reader  may  therefore  take  it  for 
granted  that,  of  the  large  buttons  of  this  First  Tomb,  those 
represented  under  Nos.  485-491  are  the  only  ones  whose 
ornamentation  exhibits  new  types. 

On  No.  485,  we  see  around  three  concentric  circles,  and 
within  a  border  of  two  circles,  a  star-like  ornament  with 
curved  sides  and  obtuse  points,  each  of  the  latter  containing 
a  small  circle,  the  space  between  each  curve  and  the  border 
being  filled  up  by  a  crescent  and  a  small  circle.   In  486  we 


Nos.  485,  486.    Ornamented  Gold  Buttons.    Sepulchre  I.    Actual  size. 


see  six  concentric  circles  around  a  magnificent  central  orna- 
mentation of  spirals  of  a  new  form ;  in  the  border  an  un- 
interrupted row  of  a  sign  which  resembles  the  letter  koppa. 

In  No.  487,  we  see  in  the  centre  two  spirals  standing 
opposite  each  other,  and  surrounded  by  five  concentric 
circles,  then  by  an  ornamentation  of  four  signs  in  the  form 
of  a  cornucopia,  and  by  four  circles,  which  form  the  border. 
In  the  following  button  (No.  488)  we  see  in  the  middle  a 
figure  approaching  the  oval  form,  within  which  are  spirals 
impossible  to  describe,  the  remaining  space  being  filled  up 
by  a  small  border  and  a  large  number  of  curved  lines  and 
two  signs  resembling  hand-saws,  with  handles  of  a  spiral 


1876.]  ORNAMENTED  GOLD  BUTTONS.  323 

form.  In  No.  490,  we  see  around  the  central  circle  two 
borders,  of  which  the  outer  one  is  filled  with  a  circular 
row  of  double  circles,  the  inner  one  with  a  circular  row  of 
signs  resembling  a  sling  with  a  stone  in  it.  The  ornamen- 
tation of  No.  491  is  very  beautiful,  but  I  find  it  impossible 


490  491 

Nos.  487-491.    Ornamented  Gold  Buttons.    Sepulchre  I.    Actual  size. 


to  describe.  As  to  the  gold  buttons  of  the  second  size,  the 
only  new  pattern  I  found  is  No.  489  ;  it  represents  in  the 
centre  a  beautiful  spiral  in  the  shape  of  a  coiled-up  serpent, 
whose  head  is  distinctly  visible  ;  around  it  are  three  con- 
centric circles,  and  a  border  filled  up  with  an  ornamenta- 
tion resembling  a  row  of  figs. 


324 


THE  FIRST  SEPULCHRE. 


[Chap.  IX. 


Nos.  492-506.    Ornamented  Gold  Buttons.    Sepulchre  I.    Actual  size. 


1876.J  ORNAMENTED  GOLD  BUTTONS.  325 

Of  the  small  buttons,  I  represent  the  new  types  under 
Nos.  492-499  and  501-5  12.  I  have  added  a  couple  of  those 
whose  patterns  the  reader  has  seen  before,  because  of 
superior  beauty.  In  No.  492  we  see,  within  a  small  border 
of  two  circles,  a  flower-like  ornament,  with  three  inner  and 
three  outer  circles ;  in  No.  493,  within  a  border  with  round 
or  square  signs,  a  spiral  in  the  form  of  a  serpent ;  in  No. 
494,  two  concentric  denticulated  circles;  in  No.  495,  a 
spiral  ornament,  which  very  frequently  occurs  both  here 
and  at  Troy  ;  in  No.  496,  we  see  two  concentric  circles  of 
small  triangles;  in  No.  497,  we  again  see  a  flower.  N<  . 
498  is  a  massive  gold  button,  and  represents  a  beautiful 
flower ;  it  is  perforated,  and  it  may  be  that  it  never  served 
as  a  button,  but  as  a  lid  of  a  small  golden  can  or  bottle. 
In  No.  499,  we  recognise  the  shape  of  a  beautiful  flower 
with  two  denticulated  circles;  No.  501  represents  the  verv 
same  ornament  as  No.  495  ;  No.  502  and  No.  503  repre- 
sent flowers.  The  ornamentation  of  No.  504  is  difficult  to 
describe;  if  we  turn  the  figure  to  the  right  it  resembles  the 
bust  of  a  man  ;  in  No.  505,  we  see  two  spirals  of  a  new  shape  ; 
in  No.  506  again  a  flower.  No.  507  exhibits  a  treble  j^J. 
with  the  arms  converted  into  spirals,  each  of  them  termi- 
nating in  a  round  point,  which  is  joined  by  a  stroke  to  the 
usual  points,  the  marks  of  the  four  nails.  No.  508  has  no 
other  ornament  than  four  concentric  circles ;  in  No.  509, 
we  see  only  a  single  |ILiJ,  with  curved  arms  and  the  marks 
of  the  four  nails;  No.  510  exhibits  an  ornamentation 
resembling  three  knives  with  handles  in  the  form  of 
spirals;  No.  511  is  identical  with  No.  501;  and  finally 
No.  512  shows  us  a  figure  similar  to  that  of  No.  507,  with 
the  sole  difference  that  it  is  here  but  single  and  there 
treble. 

Of  the  ten  large  cross-like  buttons  I  give  the  engraving, 
under  No.  500,  of  the  only  new  pattern.  As  with  the 
cross-like  buttons  of  the  fourth  tomb,  the  wooden  moulds, 


1876]  ORNAMENTED  GOLD  RIBBONS.  327 

beneath  the  gold  plates  of  the  ten  buttons  have  exactly  the 
same  intaglio  ornamentation  which  we  see  on  the  latter, 
and  there  can  consequently  be  no  doubt  that  the  intaglio 
work  was  made  when  the  gold  plate  was  already  fastened  on 
the  wooden  buttons,  and  that  the  engraving  made  on  the 
former  was  reproduced  on  the  latter  by  the  pressure  of  the 
artist's  hand.  The  ornamentation  of  the  cross-like  button, 
No.  500,  is  as  follows:  it  has  at  each  acute  angle  of  the 
lozenge  three  and  at  each  obtuse  angle  two  globular  pro- 
jections ornamented  with  concentric  circles,  and  in  the 
interior  lozenge  two  spirals  in  the  form  of  omegas  standing 
opposite  each  other  ;  the  four  angles  being  filled  up  by 
small  circles. 

Of  the  other  cross-like  buttons,  not  sufficiently  different 
to  require  engraving,  we  have  the  following  patterns.  One 
has  at  each  angle  three  globular  projections,  bur  the  orna- 
mentation consists  solely  of  circles,  which  stand  together, 
forming  flowers.  On  another  large  button  there  are  only  two 
globular  projections  at  each  corner,  and  the  lozenge  has  a 
broad  border  filled  with  an  uninterrupted  rowof  small  circles; 
in  the  centre  we  see  a  double  circle  filled  with  spirals,  of  the 
form  we  have  so  frequently  passed  in  review;  the  remaining 
space  in  each  acute  angle  being  filled  up  with  an  omega -like 
spiral  and  three  small  figures  similar  to  those  in  No.  501. 
Identical  with  this  is  the  ornamentation  of  another  cross- 
like button,  with  the  sole  difference  that  its  border  is 
wider  and  that,  instead  of  the  sign  in  No.  500,  it  has  only 
one  small  circle  in  each  acute  angle  of  the  interior  lozenge. 
I  have  no  observations  to  make  on  the  other  cross-burtons, 
for  their  patterns  are  perfectly  similar  to  those  already 
represented. 

In  the  same  sepulchre  I  found  the  broad  golden 
ribbons  represented  under  Nos.  513-518,  with  a  magni- 
ficent ornamentation  in  repousst  work. 

There  was  also  found  a  round  gold  plate,  having  in  its 
centre  a  star,  surrounded  by  three  concentric  circles,  a 
circular  row  of  small  spiral  ornaments,  and  a  border  ot 


328  THE  FIRST  SEPULCHRE.  [Chap.  IX. 

three  circles.  Also  another  double  gold  plate,  which  has 
probably  formed  a  cylinder. 


No.  519     Golden  Ornament  of  the  Greaves.    Sepulchre  I.   Size  10  :  13. 

Of  objects  of  gold  there  were  further  found  in  this 
tomb  two  ornaments  for  greaves  (lor/fuSes),  of  which  I 
represent  one  under  No.  519.    It  consists  of  an  upper 


Nos.  520-524.    Bone  Tubes  and  Buttons.    Sepulchre  I.    Actual  size 


i«76.] 


OBJECTS  OF  BONE  AND  IVORY. 


329 


golden  band,  terminating  in  a  ring  which  must  have  served 
to  attach  it  to  a  button,  and  a  lower  golden  band,  broad 
in  the  middle  and  gradually  diminishing  in  breadth  towards 
the  two  extremities,  which  has  served  to  fasten  the  greave 
round  the  thigh.  There  is  no  ornamentation  on  the  upper 
band,  where  we  see  only  a  thicker  tube-like  gold  plate, 
which,  being  soldered  to  the  rim  of  the  ring,  becomes 
gradually  smaller,  and  is  fastened  with 
small  pins  to  the  lower  end  of  the 
upper  band,  which  it  is  intended  to 
make  more  solid.  The  lower  hori- 
zontal band  is  decorated  with  repoussd 
work,  showing  in  the  middle  three 
ornaments,  composed  of  treble  con- 
centric circles  of  protruding  points, 
and  at  each  end  a  branch  with  leaves. 

I  have  further  to  mention  among 
the  objects  found  in  this  tomb  the 
three  tubes  of  bone,  Nos.  520,  521, 
and  522,  and  the  two  bone  buttons, 
Nos.  523  and  524,  the  latter  still 
having  a  fragment  of  the  bone-stick, 
which  must  have  served  as  a  syringe- 
handle  in  the  three  tubes,  which  have 
undoubtedly  been  fastened  together. 
We  therefore  have  here  in  all  proba- 
bility an  ancient  Mycenean  clyster- 
pipe. 

The  object,  No.  525,  is  a  thick  flat 
piece  of  ivory,  and  may  have  served  as 
handle  to  an  ornamental  dagger.  The  upper  rounded  end 
is  slightly  concave,  and  we  see  engraved  on  it  a  double 
concentric  circle  with  that  beautiful  type  of  spiral  orna- 
mentation which  so  often  occurs  here.  Below  it  are  four 
treble  concentric  circles  and  a  band  of  three  horizontal 
lines. 


No.  Sa5. 
Piece  of  Ivory  :  [Wf4"p' 

Handle  of  a  Dagger. 
Sepulchre  1.    Actual  vi/e. 


330  THE  FIRST  SEPULCHRE.  [Chap.  IX. 

The  object,  No.  526,  in  the  form  of  a  horse-shoe, 
is,  according  to  Professor  Landerer,  of  Egyptian  porce- 
lain, which  has  been  rubbed  with  a  lead-glazing  before 
being  put  into  the  oven  ;  by  this  process  it  has  got  a 
glancing  greenish  colour.  On  the  reverse  side  it  is  hollow, 
and  must  therefore  have  been  fastened  on  something 
else.  All  the  objects  now  described  have  evidently  been 
much  exposed  to  the  funeral  fire. 

This  tomb  contained  a  vast  quantity  of  fragments  both 
of  beautiful  hand-made  and  wheel-made  pottery.  Among 


No.  526.    An  object  of  Egyptian  Porcelain.    Sepulchre  I.    Actual  size. 


the  former,  particular  attention  is  claimed  by  the  goblets  of 
the  usual  Mycenean  type,  but  of  a  light  greenish  colour 
with  black  spiral  ornaments ;  also,  the  much  larger  black 
goblets  with  a  large  hollow  foot  and  deep  horizontal 
furrows  in  the  middle ;  further,  the  splendidly-fashioned 
small  monochromatic  lustrous  red  or  black  vases,  whose 
fabrication  is  far  superior  to  any  painted  wheel-made  vases 
to  be  found  here ;  further,  the  light  green  vases  with  black 
spirals,  likewise  hand-made ;  these  vases  are  rather  rudely 


1876.]  POTTERY  AND  COPPER  VESSELS.  331 

made,  and  their  painted  ornamentation  is  still  ruder. 
I  found  fragments  of  the  last-named  vases  in  all  the 
tombs,  and  also  among  the  stones  of  the  Cyclopean  walls 
on  Mount  Euboea.  Of  the  painted  wheel-made  vases 
the  most  interesting  are  those  with  a  dark  red  ornamen- 
tation on  a  light  red  or  yellow  dead  ground,  of  which  I 
represent  a  specimen  under  No.  527. 

Of  large  copper  vessels  I  found  in  this  tomb  only  seven, 
all  of  which  stood  on  the  west  side ;  one  of  them,  a  Xe'/^s 


No.  527.    A  whccl-madc  Vase  of  Tcrra-cotta.    Sepulchre  I.    Size  I  :  3,  about. 


\o€T/3o^o'o5,  or  kettle  for  heating  water  for  the  bath,  like  the 
one  already  represented  (No.  438,  p.  275.)  It  has  three 
vertical  handles,  and  measures  22  in.  in  diameter.  There  is 
another  smaller  one  of  the  same  form  and  also  with  three 
vertical  handles,  and  three  of  the  same  shape  with  only  two 
handles  ;  also  two  enormous  cans  with  two  handles,  of 
which  the  one  joins  the  rim  to  the  body,  while  the  other  is 
fastened  below.  As  perfectly  similar  cans,  found  in  the 
fourth  tomb,  have  been  already  represented,  I  abstain  from 


332  THE  FIRST  SEPULCHRE.  [Chap.  IX. 

giving  any  more  engravings  of  them.  (See  Nos.  436,  437, 
pp.  274,  275.) 

I  may  further  mention  the  copper  bottom  of  a  vessel ; 
and,  among  other  objects,  a  marble  disk  which  may  have 
served  as  the  bottom  to  a  vase  of  alabaster,  and  a  large 
whetstone  of  very  fine  sandstone  ;  also  16  flat  quadrangular 
pieces  of  bone,  having  at  each  end  two  perforations ;  they 
are  i^-J  in.  long  and  ^  in.  broad,  and  must  have  served 
somehow  as  ornaments,  probably  on  horse-trappings. 
Especially  characteristic  of  this  tomb  was  the  large  quantity 
of  wood  it  contained.  Besides  a  number  of  half-burnt 
pieces  of  wood  of  the  funeral  fires,  I  found  there  a  piece  of 
cypress-wood,  9  in.  long  and  4^  in.  broad,  which  had  not 
been  touched  by  the  fire,  though  apparently  it  had  been  on 
the  pyre.  There  was  also  collected  in  this  tomb  a  very 
large  quantity  of  cloven  wooden  instruments  or  handles, 
and  three  lids  of  wooden  boxes,  as  well  as  remnants  of 
sword-sheaths  or  domestic  utensils. 

Perhaps  still  more  important  and  interesting  than  all 
the  jewels  found  in  this  tomb  was  a  small  quadrangular 
wooden  box  (ydpdrjg),  of  which  I  picked  up  two  sides,  on 
each  of  which  are  carved  in  relief  a  lion  and  a  dog.  Small 
as  these  sculptures  are,  they  are  nevertheless  of  capital 
interest  to  science,  because  they  prove  to  us  that  the  art  of 
carving  in  wood  flourished  in  the  mythic  heroic  age. 

When  first  taken  out  of  the  grave  all  this  wood  was 
moist  and  soft  like  a  sponge,  but  it  is  now  dry,  and  I  hope 
that  with  proper  care  it  can  be  preserved.  There  were  also 
found  many  larger  and  smaller  pieces  of  cork,  several  of 
them  with  a  curved  border,  from  which  I  conclude  that  all 
must  have  belonged  to  shields ;  otherwise  their  use  is  quite 
inexplicable.  Food  seems  also  to  have  been  deposited 
with  the  three  bodies  of  this  tomb,  for  I  gathered  in  it  a 
large  quantity  of  oyster-shells,  and  among  them  several  un- 
opened oysters.  A  very  large  number  of  boars'  teeth  were 
also  found. 


No.  473.    klauivc  6aldn  Mult  of  the  body  at  the  north  end  of  the  Kirst  Sepulchre.    Size  1  :  5,  about.  • 


CHAPTER  X. 

CONNKCTION  OF  THE  FlVE  TOMBS  WITH  THK  ROYAL  HOUSE 

of  Pelops;  am)  Date  of  the  Agora, 

Discussion  of  the  identity  of  the  five  tombs  with  those  mentioned  by 
Pausanias  as  the  tombs  of  Agamemnon  and  his  companions  — 
Opinions  of  scholars  about  the  Trojan  War  —  The  ancients  unani- 
mous for  its  reality  —  The  author's  faith  in  the  traditions  led  to 
his  discovery  of  Troy  and  of  the  five  Royal  Tombs  at  Mycena:  — 
The  civilisation  of  Mycenae  higher  than  that  of  Troy  —  The  pottery 
of  both  very  primitive  —  Alphabetic  writing  known  at  Troy,  but  not 
at  Mycenaj  —  The  different  civilisations  may  have  been  contempo- 
raneous—  The  appearances  in  the  tombs  prove  the  simultaneous 


*  Described  on  p.  311.  I  call  particular  attention  to  the  fact  that 
the  engraving  represents  the  mask  in  only  one-fifth  of  its  actual  size. 


334 


THE  ROYAL  TOMBS  AND  AGORA.  [Chap.  X. 


death  of  those  interred,  certainly  in  each  tomb,  and  probably  in  all 
the  five  —  Traditional  veneration  for  the  sepulchres  —  Monuments 
repeatedly  placed  over  them  —  No  tombs  between  the  two  circular 
rows  of  slanting  slabs  which  formed  the  enclosure  of  the  Agora  and 
its  benches  —  Agora  probably  erected  when  the  tombstones  were 
renewed,  and  the  altar  built  over  the  fourth  tomb,  under  the 
influence  of  the  enthusiasm  created  by  the  Rhapsodists  —  These 
monuments  buried  in  the  course  of  time,  but  the  memory  of  the 
site  was  fresh  by  tradition  long  after  the  destruction  of  the  new  city 
of  Mycenee  —  Testimony  of  Pausanias  —  The  enormous  treasures 
prove  the  sepulchres  to  be  royal,  but  royalty  at  Mycenae  ended  with 
the  Dorian  invasion — This  must  have  been  much  earlier  than  the 
received  date,  1104  B.C.  —  An  objection  answered  —  Honours  paid 
to  the  remains  of  murdered  princes  even  by  their  murderers  — 
Custom  of  burying  the  dead  with  their  treasures  —  The  sepulchral 
treasure  of  Palestrina  —  The  sepulchre  ofNitocris  at  Babylon  — 
Case  of  Pyrrhus  and  the  royal  sepulchres  at  ^Egea?  —  The  sepulchre 
at  Corneto. 


Having  in  the  preceding  pages  described  the  five  great 
sepulchres  and  the  treasures  contained  in  them,  I  now  pro- 
ceed to  discuss  the  question,  whether  it  is  possible  to 
identify  these  sepulchres  with  the  tombs  which  Pausanias, 
following  the  tradition,  attributes  to  Agamemnon,  to 
Cassandra,  to  Eurymedon,  and  to  their  companions. 

The  Trojan  war  has  for  a  long  time  past  been  regarded 
by  many  eminent  scholars  as  a  myth,  of  which,  however, 
they  vainly  endeavoured  to  find  the  origin  in  the  Rig- 
Vedas.  But  in  all  antiquity  the  siege  and  conquest  of 
Ilium  by  the  Greek  army  under  Agamemnon  was  con- 
sidered as  an  undoubted  historical  fact,  and  as  such  it  is 
accepted  by  the  great  authority  of  Thucydides.*  The 
tradition  has  even  retained  the  memory  of  many  details  of 
that  war  which  had  been  omitted  by  Homer.  For  my 
part,  I  have  always  firmly  believed  in  the  Trojan  war ;  my 
full  faith  in  Homer  and  in  the  tradition  has  never  been 
shaken  by  modern  criticism,  and  to  this  faith  of  mine  I  am 
indebted  for  the  discovery  of  Troy  and  its  Treasure. 


*  Thucyd.  I.  8-10. 


1877.]     THE  AUTHOR'S  FAITH  IN  THE  TROJAN  WAR.  335 

However,  the  want  of  ornamentation  on  the  Trojan 
jewels,  the  hand-made  uncoloured  pottery  with  impressed 
or  engraved  ornamentation,  and,  finally,  the  want  of  iron 
and  glass,  convinced  me  that  the  ruins  of  Troy  belong  to 
such  a  remote  antiquity,  as  to  precede  by  ages  the  ruins  of 
Mycenae,  the  date  of  which  I  thought  I  could  fix  by  the 
result  of  the  34  shafts  which  I  sank  in  the  Acropolis  in 
February  1874.  I  therefore  believed  that  Homer  had  only 
known  the  siege  and  destruction  of  Troy  from  an  ancient 
tradition  commemorated  by  preceding  poets,  and  that,  for 
favours  received,  he  introduced  his  contemporaries  as  actors 
in  his  great  tragedy.  But  I  never  doubted  that  a  king  of 
Mycenae,  by  name  Agamemnon,  his  charioteer  Eurvme- 
don,  a  Princess  Cassandra,  and  their  followers  had  been 
treacherously  murdered  either  by  yEgisthus  at  a  banquet, 
"like  an  ox  at  the  manger,"  as  Homer*  says,  or  in  the 
bath  by  Clytemnestra,  as  the  later  tragic  poets  represent;! 
and  I  firmly  believed  in  the  statement  of  Pausanias.J  that 
the  murdered  persons  had  been  interred  in  the  Acropolis, 
differing  in  this  respect,  as  I  have  said  before,  from  Leake, 
Dodwell,  ().  Midler,  E.  Curtius,  Prokesch,  and  other 
travellers  in  the  Peloponnesus,  who  had  all  misunder- 
stood the  statement  of  Pausanias,  and  thought  that  he 
meant  the  murdered  persons  to  have  been  buried  in  the 
lower  town. 

My  firm  faith  in  the  traditions  made  me  undertake  my 
late  excavations  in  the  Acropolis,  and  led  to  the  discoverv 
of  the  five  tombs,  with  their  immense  treasures.  Although 
I  found  in  these  tombs  a  very  high  civilisation,  from  a  tech- 
nical point  of  view,  yet,  as  in  Ilium,  I  found  there  only 
hand-made  or  most  ancient  wheel-made  pottery,  and  no  iron. 
Further,  writing  was  known  in  Troy,  for  I  found  there  a 
number  of  short  inscriptions,  in  very  ancient  Cypriote 

*  Odyss.  IV.  530-535,  and  XI.  409-41  >• 

t  /Eschvlus,  Agamemnon,  1438;  Euripides,  Orestes,  26. 

J  Paus.  II.  16,  §  6. 


336 


THE  ROYAL  TOMBS  AND  AGORA.  [Chap.  X. 


characters ;  and,  so  far  as  we  can  judge,  in  a  language 
which  is  essentially  the  same  as  Greek  ;  *  whereas  we  have 
the  certainty  now  that  the  alphabet  was  unknown  in 
Mycenae.  Had  it  been  known,  the  Mycenean  goldsmiths, 
who  were  always  endeavouring  to  invent  some  new 
ornamentation,  would  have  joyfully  availed  themselves 
of  the  novelty  to  introduce  the  strange  characters  in 
their  decoration.  Besides,  in  the  remote  antiquity,  to 
which  the  Homeric  rhapsodies  and  the  tradition  of  the 
Mycenean  tombs  refer,  there  was  as  yet  no  commercial 
intercourse.  Nobody  travelled,  except  on  warlike  or  pira- 
tical expeditions.  Thus  there  may  have  been  a  very 
high  civilisation  at  Mycenae,  while  at  the  very  same  time 
the  arts  were  only  in  their  first  dawn  in  Troy,  and 
writing  with  Cypriote  characters  may  have  been  in  use  in 
Troy  more  than  iooo  years  before  any  alphabet  was  known 
in  Greece. 

I  have  not  the  slightest  objection  to  admit  that  the 
tradition  which  assigns  the  tombs  in  the  Acropolis  to 
Agamemnon  and  his  companions,  who  on  their  return  from 
Ilium  were  treacherously  murdered  by  Clytemnestra  or 
her  paramour  ^Egisthus,  may  be  perfectly  correct  and 
faithful.  I  am  bound  to  admit  this  so  much  the  more,  as 
we  have  the  certainty  that,  to  say  the  least,  all  the  bodies 
in  each  tomb  had  been  buried  simultaneously.  The 
calcined  pebbles  below  each  of  them,  the  marks  of  the  fire 
to  the  right  and  left  on  the  internal  walls  of  the  tombs, 
the  undisturbed  state  of  the  ashes  and  the  charred  wood 
on  and  around  the  bodies,  give  us  the  most  unmistakable 
proofs  of  this  fact.  Owing  to  the  enormous  depths  of  these 
sepulchres,  and  the  close  proximity  of  the  bodies  to  each 
.other,  it  is  quite  impossible  that  three  or  even  five  funeral 
piles  could  have  been  dressed  at  different  intervals  of  time 
in  the  same  tomb. 


See  '  Troy  and  its  Remains,'  pp.  363-372. 


I877-]  VERACITY  OF  THE  TRADITION.  337 

The  identity  of  the  mode  of  burial,  the  perfect  similarity 
of  all  the  tombs,  their  very  close  proximity,  the  impossi- 
bility of  admitting  that  three  or  even  five  royal  personages 
of  immeasurable  wealth,  who  had  died  a  natural  death  at 
long  intervals  of  time,  should  have  been  huddled  together 
in  the  same  tomb,  and,  finally,  the  great  resemblance  of  all 
the  ornaments,  which  show  exactly  the  same  style  of  art 
and  the  same  epoch— all  these  facts  are  so  many  proofs  that 
all  the  twelve  men,  three  women,  and  perhaps  two  or  three 
children,  had  been  murdered  simultaneously  and  burned  at 
the  same  time. 

The  veracity  of  the  tradition  seems  further  to  be 
confirmed  by  the  deep  veneration  which  the  Myceneans 
and  in  fact  the  inhabitants  of  the  whole  Argolid,  have 
always  shown  for  these  five  sepulchres.  The  funeral  pyres 
were  not  yet  extinguished  when  they  were  covered  with  a 
layer  of  clay,  and  then  with  a  layer  of  pebbles,  on  which 
the  earth  was  thrown  at  once.  To  this  circumstance 
chiefly  are  we  indebted  for  the  preservation  of  so  large  a 
quantity  of  wood  and  the  comparatively  good  preservation 
of  the  bodies ;  for  in  no  instance  were  the  bones  consumed 
by  the  fire,  and  on  several  bodies,  which  were  covered  with 
golden  masks  and  thick  breast-plates,  even  much  of  the 
flesh  had  remained.  The  site  of  each  tomb  was  marked 
by  tombstones,  and  when  these  had  been  covered  by  the 
dust  of  ages  and  had  disappeared,  fresh  tombstones  were 
erected  on  the  new  level,  but  precisely  over  the  spot  where 
the  ancient  memorials  lay  buried.  Onlv  on  the  large 
fourth  sepulchre  with  the  five  bodies,  instead  of  new  tomb- 
stones, a  sacrificial  altar  of  almost  circular  form  was  built. 

As  before  explained,  the  first  tomb  had,  according  to 
all  appearance,  been  originally  decorated  with  a  large 
monument,  from  which  came  the  three  tombstones  with 
the  bas-reliefs,  and  these  sculptured  tombstones  must  have 
been  taken  out  and  erected  on  the  new  level. 

Before  proceeding  to  what  I  have  further  to  say  of 


13 


338  THE  ROYAL  TOMBS  AND  AGORA.  [Chap.  X. 

the  Agora,  I  must  here  add  to  the  discussion  opened  in 
Chapter  V.  the  testimony  of  Homer  himself  to  the  form 
and  use  of  the  Agora  in  the  heroic  age.  In  that  beautiful 
passage  in  which  he  depicts  the  trial  of  a  suit,  as  repre- 
sented on  the  Shield  of  Achilles,  he  expressly  describes  the 
Agora  as  a  sacred  circle,  with  the  elders  sitting  round  it  on 
polished  stones,  or — as  we  may  now  venture  to  translate — on 
smoothed  slabs,  like  those  in  the  Acropolis  of  Mycenae  : — * 

"  But  the  townsmen,  all  assembled 

In  the  forum,  thronging  stood; 
For  a  strife  of  twain  had  risen, 

Suing  on  a  fine  of  blood. 
All  was  paid,  the  first  protested, 

Pleading  well  to  move  the  crowd ; 
Nought  was  had,  upheld  the  second  : 

Each  to  obey  an  umpire  vowed  ; 
And  the  hearers,  as  they  sided 

This  or  that  way,  cheered  aloud  : 
And  the  heralds  ordered  silence ; 

And,  on  chairs  of  polished  stone, 
Ranged  in  venerable  circle 

Sate  the  Elders.    One  by  one 
Each  the  clear-toned  herald's  sceptre 

Took,  and  standing  forth  alone 
Spake  his  mind.    Two  golden  talents 

Lay  before  them,  to  requite 
Only  him,  among  the  Judges, 

Straightliest  who  should  judge  the  right." 


*  Iliad,  XVIII.  497-508  :— 

\ao\  8'  eiv  ayopfj  e  a av  a 8 p6  01  '  ep6a  Si  v(7kos 
wpiipei  '  Svo  8'  &vdp£S  ivi'iKtov  f'lveica  woivrfs 
di>8pb?  airotyQiixivov.    'O  jxlv  evx*To  iravr'1  airoSovvai, 
hriixy  iTKpavo-Koov,  6  8'  avaivero  /j.r)S(v  e\tadai ' 
a,u<pui  8'  leVfhji'  eirl  Xaropi  ire'ipap  eAeVSai. 
\ao\  b"  a/j.(poT€poio-tv  iirqirvov,  ap.(p\s  apwyoi  • 
KrjpvKfs  8'  ixpa  Aabv  ipr)rvoi>.     O't  Se  yipovres 
e'lar'  eirl  lecroiffi  \(6ots  iepa  Ivl  KVK\tf, 
(TKrjTTTpa  84  K7]pVKWV  6C  x*P'T'  *X0V  V^po<pd>vcov  • 
TOIOIV  C7T61T'  jjlffffOV,  djU01/3?)8iS  8e  SiKa^ov. 

Ktiro  8'  dp'  eV  fieo-ffotai  Svoi  xpvao^°  rahavra 
tg5  S6fj.ev  bs  fitTa  Toloi  S'iKrjv  idvvTara  (hoi. 

The  translation  is  by  Mr.  Gladstone,  in  the  Contemporary  Review 
for  February,  1874. 


i877-]  THE  AGORA  IN  HOMER.  339 

What  reader  can  follow  this  vivid  picture,  in  the  light 
furnished  by  my  discovery  of  the  Agora  at  Mycenae, 
without  feeling  that  the  poet  had  often  witnessed  such  a 
scene,  perhaps  on  this  very  spot  r 

Homer  makes  the  Trojan  Agora,  the  assembly  of  all 
the  people,  old  and  young,  with  the  elders,  meet  in  the 
citadel  of  Ilium,  at  the  gates  of  Priam.* 

In  several  passages  of  the  Odyssey  he  describes  the 
Agora  of  the  Phaeacians,  which  was  also  in  the  citadel,  near 
the  port.  Hither  the  people  were  led  by  Alcinous,  to 
hear  the  wonderful  adventures  of  Ulysses,  and  they  also 
"  coming,  sealed  themselves  near  on  polisJied  stones  (or 
smoothed  slabs)  ;  and  the  spaces  of  the  Agora  and  the  scats 
were  quickly  filled  by  the  thronging  people."  f 

To  complete  the  parallel,  this  Pharacian  Agora  (that  is, 
its  circular  enclosure)  was  "  fitted  together  with  stones 
dragged  to  their  places  and  sunk  in  the  ground,"  like  the 
slabs  of  the  Agora  at  Mycenae ;  and  it  surrounded  "  a 
beautiful  Posideiim,"  which  we  must  naturally  suppose  to 
have  been  a  small  open  sanctuary  in  the  centre  of  the 
Agora.;}] 

I  may  add,  as  a  proof  of  the  great  importance  of  the 
Agora  in  the  civic  life  of  the  Heroic  age,  that  its  absence 

*  //.  II.  788-9;  VII.  345-6;  where  iyopa  is  the  assembly,  from 
which  the  place  of  meeting  took  its  name ;  iyopd,  from  the  verb  uyiipw, 
"  assemble." 

t  Odyss.  VIII.  4-7,  and  16,  17  : — 

roiatv  8'  T)y(n&vtv  ',  >•  atvot  ' A\kw6oio 

<pair]Ka>v  iyoprivS',  5}  o<piv  irapa  VT)va\  Wtukto. 
i\()6vrts  hi  KaOi^ov  iw\  ^(arotat  KiBoKTiv 

iftiftnap  ......      .  . 

Kapirakifiwt  5'  (uirKijfTo  fipoTtov  kyopal  T(  koX  iSpai 
aypofitvwv. 

X  Odyss.  VI.  266-7  :— 

tvda  it  rt  <r<p'  ayopT),  Ka\hv  noaiSJiiov  &ft<pls, 
vt  ola  iv  Kdf  <T(T  1  Karwpvx*f<T<r'  ipapvta. 


34-0  THE  ROYAL  TOMBS  AND  AGORA.          [Chap.  X. 

among  the  Cyclopes  is  cited  by  Homer  to  characterize 
their  barbarous  state.* 

I  at  first  thought  that  every  one  of  the  large  slabs  of 
the  circular  double  parallel  row,  which  forms  the  enclosure 
of  the  Agora  and  its  benches  was  a  tombstone,  and 
marked  a  grave ;  but  this  could  not  be  the  case.  There 
are  no  real  tombs  either  between  the  two  parallel  rows  or 
on  either  side  of  them.  The  twelve  quadrangular  tomb-like 
recesses  which  form  part  of  the  enclosure  of  the  Agora  on 
the  north  side,  have  turned  out  to  be  nothing  else  than  small 
reservoirs  or  cisterns.  They  were  filled  with  household 
remains  and  bones  of  animals.  At  all  events  the  Agora 
appears  to  have  been  erected  in  honour  of  those  who 
were  buried  in  the  five  sepulchres,  but  evidently  at  a  later 
period,  though  undoubtedly  centuries  before  the  capture  of 
Mycenae  by  the  Argives.  I  infer  this  from  the  irregular 
and  careless  architecture  of  the  Cyclopean  wall  which 
supports  the  double  parallel  row  in  the  lower  part  of  the 
Acropolis,  and  from  the  number  of  slabs  which  it  contains 
resembling  those  of  that  enclosure. 

As  a  further  proof,  I  may  mention  that  between  the 
stones  of  this  wall,  as  well  as  between  the  two  double 
circular  rows  of  slabs  which  form  the  enclosure  and 
benches  of  the  Agora,  and  in  the  tomb-shaped  cisterns,  I 
find  only  fragments  of  the  usual  Mycenean  pottery,  and  no 
trace  of  that  ancient  hand-made  and  wheel-made  pottery 
which  is  found  in  the  royal  tombs.  I  think  it  therefore 
highly  probable  that  the  erection  of  the-  Agora  coincides 
with  the  renewal  of  the  tombstones  on  the  ist,  2nd,  3rd, 
and  5th  tombs,  and  the  erection  of  the  sacrificial  altar  on 
the  4th  tomb  ;  and  that  this  renewal  was  occasioned  by 
the  immense  enthusiasm  which  the  Rhapsodists,  who  went 
from  house  to  house  chanting  the  Homeric  hymns,  roused 

*   OdySS.  IX.  112:  Tolaiv   5'    oCt'    070^01    /3ouKr)(p6poi    ovSi  Oefi'iffTts, 

"But  they  have  neither  assemblies  for  council  nor  laws" — each  ruling  apart  in  his 
own  family. 


.877-] 


DATE  OF  THE  AGORA. 


341 


among  the  people  for  the  heroes  of  the  Iliad  and  the 
Odyssey.  Very  likely  the  glorious  acts  of  the  king  of  men, 
Agamemnon,  and  his  companions,  were  frequently  chanted 
here  in  the  Agora  on  their  very  sepulchres.  I  may  here 
observe  that  while  tl*e  whole  Acropolis  is  covered  with 
remnants  of  Cyclopean  house-walls,  I  found  no  trace 
whatever  of  any  prehistoric  building  within  the  sacred 
precincts  of  the  circular  Agora. 

But,  nevertheless,  the  accumulation  of  debris  con- 
tinued, and  in  the  course  of  time  the  new  tombstones,  as 
well  as  the  Agora  itself,  were  buried  and  disappeared,  while 
the  site  of  the  tombs  remained  always  fresh  in  the  memory 
of  the  inhabitants.  I  think,  however,  we  may  consider  it 
as  perfectly  certain  that  the  Agora  continued  to  serve  for 
the  National  Assembly  until  the  capture  of  Mycenae  by 
the  Argives  (468  B.C.),  because  not  only  were  the  My- 
ceneans  attached  to  those  sacred  precincts  by  the  most 
glorious  and  most  affectionate  reminiscences,  but  also 
because  the  Agora  was  the  most  imposing  and  most  beau- 
tiful situation  in  the  whole  city,  whence  the  Assembly 
overlooked  not  only  the  whole  lower  city,  but  also  the 
whole  plain,  with  Argos,  Tiryns,  Nauplia,  as  well  as  the 
splendid  Gulf  of  Nauplia.  It  is  therefore  equally  certain 
that  until  468  b.c  the  Agora  was  kept  clean,  and  that  the 
accumulation  in  it  only  began  after  the  Myceneans  had 
been  forced  to  emigrate.  I  think  I  have  proved  by  the 
passages  in  Euripides*  that  this  poet  must  necessarily  have 
visited  Mycena*;  for  he  was  fully  acquainted  with  the 
peculiar  architecture  of  its  Cyclopean  walls,  he  perfect!} 
knew  the  Agora  in  the  Acropolis,  and  he  was  well  aware 
that  close  to  it  was  the  building,  laid  bare  by  my  spade, 
to  which  tradition  pointed  as  the  ancient  Royal  Palace. 


*  Iphig.  Taur.  845;  Iphig.  Aid.  152  and  1498-1499  ;  Ifcrcul. 
Furens,  944;  Orest.  1246-47;  7'roati,  1088;  JS/cctra,  710-712  and 
1158.    See  Chapter  II.,  pp.  37-38. 


342  THE  ROYAL  TOMBS  AND  AGORA.  [Chap.  X. 

To  the  above  testimony  might  also  be  added  the  passage 
where  the  messenger  says  to  Orestes,  "  Even  if  thou  earnest 
within  the  walls  (the  Acropolis)  thou  wouldst  not  be  able" 
(to  kill  Aegisthus)* ;  further,  the  passage  where  the  mes- 
senger says  of  a  person  that  he  *'  seldom  comes  to  the  city 
(Mycenae)  and  to  the  circle  of  the  Agora."f 

From  the  former  of  these  passages  we  also  infer  that 
Euripides  knew  the  Palace  of  Aegisthus  to  be  in  the 
Acropolis,  and  from  the  latter  we  have  an  additional  proof 
that  he  knew  the  Agora  to  be  of  circular  form.  I  think 
we  might,  as  a  further  proof  of  Euripides'  acquaintance 
with  Mycenae,  also  adduce  the  passage :  "  I  see  the  people 
go  and  sit  down  on  the  height  (no  doubt  the  Acropolis) 
where,  as  tradition  goes,  Danaus  first  assembled  the  people  on 
common  seats  when  he  was  brought  to  trial  for  the  offence 
against  Aegyptus.'"J  Mr.  Newton  thinks  that  the  poet 
speaks  here  of  Argos,  and  so  it  certainly  appears  by  the 
names  of  Aegyptus  and  Danaus,  of  whose  visit  to  Mycenae 
there  is  no  tradition ;  besides,  the  walls  of  the  Acropolis 
of  Argos  were  attributed  to  Danaus.  But  after  reading  all 
that  precedes,  I  think  the  passage  can  only  refer  to  the 
Acropolis  of  Mycenae.  However  that  may  be,  at  all  events 
the  passage  gives  us  an  additional  proof  that  the  people 
were  sitting  in  the  Agora. 

It  is  impossible  to  say  how  many  years  after  its  capture 
by  the  Argives  (468  b.c)  Mycenae  was  visited  by  Euripides, 
who  was  born  in  480  and  died  in  402  b.c.  But  the 
particulars  he  gives  us  of  the  Agora,  as  well  as  his  allusions 
to  the  royal  palace,  seem  to  leave  no  doubt  that  he  saw 
these  monuments,  and  that  consequently  they  were  not  yet 
totally  buried  in  the  debris  when  he  visited  the  Acropolis. 

*  Elect.  615  '•  Tei^e'coe  fikv  eKdwv  ivrbs  ovSev  &c  aBivois. 
"t"    Ot'CSt.  9^9  •    oKtydxis  &arv  Kayopas  xpaivuv  kvkXov. 

*  Orest.  871—3  '•    6pS>  8'  &x^ov  ffrelxovra  Ktxi  Qaaaovr  &Kpav 

ov  <pa<Ti  -npCiTov  Aavaov  Alyvirr^  S'iKas 
SiSout'  aBpolaai  \a.hv  eij  Koivas  iSpas. 


1877]  EURIPIDES  SAW  MYCENAE.  343 

On  the  other  hand,  my  excavations  have  proved  that  the 
Agora  was  already  covered  by  a  deep  accumulation  of 
debris  when  the  later  Greek  city  was  built  on  its  top,  and 
for  the  various  reasons  I  have  adduced*  there  can  be 
no  doubt  that  the  new  settlement  was  founded  about 
400  B.C.  But  as  all  the  debris  which  covered  the  Agora 
must  necessarily  have  been  washed  down  by  the  rain  from 
the  five  upper  natural  or  artificial  terraces  of  the  steep 
mount  of  the  Acropolis,  we  are  led  to  the  conclusion  that 
Euripides  visited  Mycenae  in  his  younger  years,  and  thus 
shortly  after  the  city's  capture,  for  otherwise  the  enormous 
accumulation  of  dibris  in  about  400  b.c.  would  be  alto- 
gether inexplainable. 

But  though  buried  deep  below  the  new  city,  the 
precise  site  of  each  tomb  was  perfectly  remembered  by  the 
inhabitants  of  the  Argolid.  After  an  existence  of  about 
200  years,  the  new  city  was,  for  some  cause  or  other,  again 
and  finally  abandoned.  But  still  the  tradition  remained  so 
fresh,  that  nearly  400  years  after  the  destruction  of  the 
new  town  the  exact  place  of  each  tomb  was  shown  to 
Pausanias.  Nay,  the  interest  which  the  inhabitants  of  the 
Peloponnesus  felt  in  the  sepulchres  was  still  so  great 
sixteen  or  eighteen  centuries  after  the  tragic  event,  that,  as 
Pausanias  states,  the  Lacedaemonians  of  Amyclae  disputed 
with  Mycenae  the  honour  of  having  Cassandra's  tomb, 
which  they  thought  they  possessed  in  their  own  city.  At 
all  events,  Pausaniasf  says  that  the  Amycleans  had  in  their 
village  the  sanctuary  and  the  statue  of  Alexandra,  whom 
they  identified  with  Cassandra. 

The  five  tombs  of  Mycenae,  or  at  least  three  of  them, 
contained  such  enormous  treasures,  that  they  cannot  bur 
have  belonged  to  members  of  the  royal  family.  But  the 
period  of  the  kings  of  Mycenae  belongs  to  a  very  remote 
antiquity.  Royalty  ceased  there  at  the  Dorian  invasion,  the 


*  Chapter  III.,  p.  63.  t  Paus.  III.  19,  §  6. 


344  THE  ROYAL  TOMBS  AND  AGORA.  [Chap.  X. 

date  of  which  has  always  been  fixed  at  1104  B.C.  Thucy- 
dides  says  that  it  took  place  eighty  years  after  the  war 
of  Troy,  which  has  been  hitherto  supposed  to  have  ended 
in  1 1 84  b.c.  But,  in  agreement  with  all  archaeologists,  I 
hold  to  the  conclusion  that,  on  the  evidence  of  the  monu- 
ments of  Troy,  the  capture  and  the  destruction  of  that 
city,  and  consequently  also  the  Dorian  invasion,  must  have 
occurred  at  a  much  earlier  date. 

It  has  been  objected  that  the  five  sepulchres  cannot 
possibly  contain  the  bodies  of  Agamemnon,  Eurymedon, 
Cassandra,  and  their  followers,  for  the  reason  that  they  were 
killed  by  their  enemies,  ^Egisthus  and  Clytemnestra,  who 
had  usurped  the  power,  and  who  would  neither  have  buried 
them  nor  have  permitted  them  to  be  buried  with  immense 
treasures.  But  this  objection  falls  to  the  ground  before  the 
testimony  of  Homer,  that  even  he  who  killed  his  enemy 
burned  him  in  his  full  armour,  with  all  his  weapons.  Thus, 
for  example,  Andromache  says  to  Hector :  * 

..."  Father  I  have  none, 
Nor  honoured  mother ;  for  divine  Achilles 
My  father  slew,  and  sacked  Cilician  Thebes, 
Fair-peopled  city  of  the  lofty  gates. 
Yet  stript  he  not  Eetion  of  his  arms, 
Through  the  restraint  of  a  religious  awe, 
But  burning  him  with  all  his  panoply, 
Heaped  high  his  tomb."  I.  C.  Wright 

That  it  was  the  custom  in  the  heroic  age  to  bury  the 
dead  with  those  objects  which  had  been  dear  to  them  in 
life,  is  further  proved  by  Homer,  where  the  soul  of 
Elpenor  begs  Ulysses  to  bury  his  body  with  his  weapons, 


*  II.  VI.  413-419  =— 

.  .  .  ouSt  jjLol  ion  iraTTjp  koX  ir6rvia  fxi\Tt\p, 
tjtoi  yap  irarep'  afibv  cnreKrave  57os  'AxiMevs, 
€K  5e  ir6\iv  wcpa(i>  KiA'ikwv  evvaierdtiirav, 
&ri^i)v  vty'mvXov  ■  koto  8'  e/crapec  'Heriaiva 
ou5e  fuv  i^cvdpL^f  '  <re/3d<T(raTo  yap  rSye  8vp.<Zi  ' 
oA\'  &pa  fxiv  KaTtKije  avv  ivreoi  haihaKtoiffiv, 
7)5'  eirl  <rrjp.'  *x€fv- 


i877  ]  AGAMEMNON'S  IGNOMINIOUS  BURIAL.  345 

and  to  erect  a  mound  over  him.*  My  esteemed  friend 
Professor  Semiteles  reminds  me  that  Ajax,  in  the  tragedy 
of  Sophocles,  prays  to  be  buried  with  his  arms.! 

It  would  therefore  appear  that,  in  burying  the  fifteen 
royal  personages  with  immense  treasures,  the  murderers 
merely  acted  according  to  an  ancient  custom,  and  con- 
sequently only  fulfilled  a  sacred  duty. 

On  the  other  hand,  the  usage  of  the  age  appears  to 
have  left  the  murderers  at  full  liberty  regarding  the  form 
of  the  sepulchres  and  the  mode  of  the  burial,  which  were 
consequently  as  ignominious  as  possible.  The  graves  were 
merely  deep  irregular  quadrangular  holes,  into  which  the 
royal  victims  were  huddled  by  three  and  even  by  five,  and 
on  the  bottom  of  which  they  were  burnt,  but  each  sepa- 
rately, so  that  their  bones  might  not  be  mixed  together. 

I  perfectly  share  Mr.  Newton's  opinion,  that  all  the 
five  immense  and  magnificent  Treasuries  in  the  lower  city 
and  in  the  suburb  must  necessarily  be  more  ancient  than 
the  five  royal  tombs  in  the  Acropolis;  and  if  we  reflect  that 
princes,  who  used  such  magnificent  underground  palaces  as 
storehouses  of  their  wealth,  should  have  been  huddled  away 
like  impure  animals  into  miserable  holes,  we  find  in  this 
ignominious  burial  alone  a  powerful  argument  in  favour  of 
the  veracity  of  the  tradition  which  points  to  these  sepul- 
chres as  those  of  the  king  of  men,  Agamemnon,  and  his 
companions,  who  on  their  return  from  Ilium  were  treacher- 
ously murdered  by  Aegisthus  and  Clytemnestra. 

Professor  Paley  reminds  me  that  the  excellent  Greek 

*  0(/yss.  XI.  72-76: — 

UTI  n'  &K\avTuv,  idairroy,  twv  uirtdo/  KaraKttirttv 
i>o<T<pi<r8tis,  fii)  TOl  ti  Offly  fii}vifia  ytvufiai  ' 
a\\d  fit  KaKK(7cn  avv  t« iixtoiv,  antra  /uoi  iariv. 
<rf|^a  Ti  not  x*'"1')  iroAii|i  iirl  6ii>1  QaKaaar^s. 

"  Do  not  leave  me  behind,  unwept  for,  unlmried,  when  you  go  away,  lest  I  should 
become  the  cause  of  the  wrath  of  the  gods  against  thee  ;  but  burn  me  with  all  the 
arms  which  belong  to  me,  and  erect  over  me  a  mound  on  the  shore  of  the  hoary  KM." 

t  Soph.  Ajax,  555  :— 

to  5'  aK\a  T(i>xv  KOW  ^ol  Tf flavj/frai. 
"My  other  weapons  shall  be  buried  together  with  me." 


44 


346  THE  ROYAL  TOMBS  AND  AGORA.  [Chap.  X. 

scholar,  Miss  A.  Swanwick,  the  translator  (among  other 
works)  of  the  Oresteia  of  Aeschylus,  has  already  made  the  just 
remark,  that  the  ancient  tradition  made  Agamemnon  to  be 
buried  in  silence  and  ignominy ;  and  the  same  friend  calls 
my  attention  to  the  following  passages  in  the  tragic  poets 
to  show  how  all  of  them  agree  upon  this.  Thus  we  read  in 
Aeschylus :  "  By  our  hands  has  he  fallen  and  died,  and  we 
shall  bury  him  not  with  the  lamentations  of  his  house- 
hold."* But  we  see  continually  in  Homer  that  the  lamen- 
tations of  relations  and  of  all  those  who  belonged  to  the 
household  were  regarded  as  quite  essential  to  the  honour  as 
well  as  the  peace  of  the  dead.  So,  for  instance,  we  read  in 
the  Iliad  f :  "So  spoke  (Briseis)  weeping,  and  the  women 
(the  other  female  slaves)  broke  out  into  lamentations, 
seemingly  for  Patroclus,  but  in  reality  every  one  of  them 
was  merely  lamenting  over  her  own  misfortune." 

We  further  read  in  Aeschylus :  "  O  insolent  mother, 
with  the  funeral  of  an  enemy  thou  hast  dared  to  bury  your 
lord,  a  king  without  the  tear  of  his  citizens,  a  husband 
without  his  wife's "  \  :  and  "  O  father,  who  hast  not  died  in 
the  manner  of  kings. "§  Also  in  Sophocles :  "  Having 
ignominiously  slain  him  like  an  enemy,  she  chopped  and 
hacked  his  limbs."  ||  Likewise  in  Euripides:  "Certainly 
like  a  criminal  thou  wilt  be  buried  ignominiously  by  night, 
not  in  the  daytime."  ^[ 


*  Agam.  1552-1554 :  .   ■   .  *pbshn&r 

Ka-KTiarev,  KarOave,  r]/xe7s  Kal  KaraBd^iOjxev 
ovx  V1T0  KhavQfxuv  ruv  e{  oXkuv. 

t  //.,  XIX.  301-302  : 

Ss  ecparo  (Bpiarjts)  KAaiova'  '  iir\  5t  rrTevaxovro  yvwiiKfS, 
TlaTpunAov  irpotpacrtv,  <r<pa>v  8'  avTUiv  /o)8e'  efcauTTj. 

£    CtlOepk.  43O"" 3  •    TrdvroXfxt  fiarsp,  Salais  iv  eK(popa?s 
avev  iroKnav  &vaKr', 
avev  Se  TTtvOriixdruv 
ctAtjs  kvoifnoiKTOV  dvSpa  0ai|/at. 

§  Ibid.  479  •  irdrep,  -rpowounv  ou  TvpavvMols  Oavdiv. 

||  Electro,,  444  •        V<P'  ^s  Bavuiv  aT  tfios,  ware  Sva/xevTis, 
eixacrxaAio-0ri. 

^1   Troad,  446  :         i\  KaKhs  KaK&s  ra<pT)oei  vvktus,  ovk  eV  hp(Pa- 


I877-J         CUSTOM  OF  BURIAL  WITH  TREASURES.  347 

I  may  here  observe  that  Sophocles  seems  never  to  have 
visited  Mycenae,  for  he  fancied  Agamemnon's  sepulchre  to 
have  the  form  of  a  tumulus  *  :  "  On  the  mound  of  this 
grave  I  proclaim  this  to  my  father." 

That  in  a  remote  antiquity  it  was  the  custom  to  bury 
kings  with  their  treasures  is  proved  by  various  classics. 
Thus,  for  instance,  we  are  told  by  Diodorus  Siculusf  that 
Sardanapalus,  the  last  king  of  Assyria,  erected  in  one  of 
his  courts  an  immense  pyre,  on  which  he  burnt  himself 
together  with  all  his  treasures,  his  royal  ornaments,  bis  wives 
and  his  eunuchs. 

We  further  read  in  Herodotus : $  "This  same  queen, 
Nitocris,  committed  the  following  fraud :  Above  the  most 
frequented  gate  of  the  city  (Babylon)  she  erected  for  her- 
self a  sepulchre,  which  projected  from  the  upper  part  of 
the  gate.  And  on  this  sepulchre  she  engraved  an  inscrip- 
tion of  the  following  tenour  :  'Whichever  of  the  kings  of 
Babylon  who  succeeds  me  may  stand  in  need  of  mone\ . 
let  him  open  the  sepulchre  and  take  treasure  as  much  as  he 
likes.  But  let  him  open  it  in  no  other  case  than  when  be 
really  needs  money ;  because  that  would  not  be  good.' 
This  sepulchre  remained  intact  until  the  kingdom  passed 
over  to  Darius.  Darius  was  vexed  that  he  could  never 
use  the  gate,  and  that,  though  treasures  were  lying  there, 
and  though  the  treasures  themselves  invited  him,  he  should 
not  be  allowed  to  take  them.  But  this  gate  he  could  not 
use,  because  in  passing  through  he  would  have  had  the 
corpse  above  his  head.  Now,  on  opening  the  tomb  he 
found  no  treasures,  but  only  the  corpse,  and  an  inscription 
which  was  as  follows:  'If  thou  wert  not  insatiable  and 
greedy  for  treasures,  thou  wouldst  not  have  opened  the 
tombs  of  the  dead.'" 

This  account  of  Herodotus  proves  two  things ;  first,  that 
it  was  the  custom  at  Babylon  to  bury  the  royal  dead  with 


*  Ekct.  894  :  rvfi&ov  5'  <V  axSu  t<?5( 

t  II.  21-28.  %  1.  187. 


348 


THE  ROYAL  TOMBS  AND  AGORA. 


[Chap.  X. 


treasures,  and,  secondly,  that  the  people  were  prevented  by 
a  religious  fear  from  plundering  the  abodes  of  the  dead. 

We  further  read  in  Diodorus :  *  "  When  Pyrrhus 
had  pillaged  JEgese,  which  was  the  residence  of  the  Mace- 
donian kings,  he  left  there  the  Galatians.  These  having 
learned  from  some  people  that,  according  to  an  ancient  cus- 
tom, large  treasures  were  buried  in  the  royal  tombs  together 
with  the  deceased,  they  excavated  all  the  sepulchres,  and 
having  rifled  them,  they  divided  the  treasures  among 
themselves,  but  the  bones  of  the  dead  they  threw  away. 
Pyrrhus  upbraided  them  on  account  of  this  sacrilegious  act, 
but  he  did  not  punish  them  because  he  needed  them  in 
his  wars."  This  proves  again  to  us  that  it  was  an  ancient 
custom  in  Macedonia  to  bury  the  dead  of  royal  houses 
with  treasures,  and  that  the  people  were  deterred  by  a  reli- 
gious fear  from  touching  them,  because,  although  it  had 
been  known  for  ages  that  the  tombs  contained  treasures, 
yet  nobody  had  dared  to  plunder  them. 

I  may  further  remind  the  reader  of  the  large  trea- 
sure of  elaborately  ornamented  gold  and  silver  vases  and 
other  jewels,  as  well  as  of  bronze  vessels  and  vases,  arms, 
etc.,  recently  discovered  in  a  tomb  at  Palestrina  in  Italy 
(the  ancient  Praeneste),  and  attributed  to  the  seventh  cen- 
tury b.c, — "  that  period  at  which  the  influence  of  the 
civilization  and  industry  of  the  East  dominated  in  Etruria 
and  Latium,  before  those  countries  became  subject  to  the 
force  of  Hellenic  genius — the  period  when  the  two  currents 
of  Assyrian  and  Egyptian  luxury  and  thought  had  become 
intermingled  in  their  effect  upon  art,  and  spread  by  the 
Phoenician  artisans  and  traders  through  the  Western  coun- 
tries whither  they  carried  their  productions,  ornamented 
according  to  the  ideas  they  had  imbibed,  from  the  banks  of 
the  Euphrates  on  the  one  side,  and  the  Nile  on  the  other."  f 

I  also  call  attention  to  the  sepulchre  of  Corneto,  the 

*   IV.  2  2,  23. 

t  From  an  account  of  the  Tomb  at  Palestrina  in  the  Times,  February 
*7,  1877. 


[877-]         CUSTOM  OF  BURIAL  WITH  TREASURES.  349 

contents  of  which,  as  I  have  before  stated,  are  in  the 
Museum  of  Berlin.  This  tomb,  which  belongs  to  an  epoch 
anterior  to  the  influence  of  Greek  culture  in  Italy,  and 
therefore  anterior  to  the  seventh  century  B.C.,  contains  not 
only  the  armour  and  weapons,  but  also  the  whole  household 
furniture,  copper  kettles,  drinking  vessels,  and  so  forth,  of 
a  rich  warrior.  I  hardly  think  it  necessary  to  remind  the 
reader  of  the  custom  in  ancient  Egypt  of  burying  the  dead 
with  treasures,  for  all  the  collections  of  Egyptian  antiqui- 
ties in  the  world  are  procured  from  Egyptian  tombs. 

My  learned  friend  Dr.  Karl  Blind,  in  his  excellent 
pamphlet,  entitled  '  Fire  Burial,'  cites  the  Odin  Law  in 
Scandinavia,  which  reads  as  follows : — "  Odin  ordained 
that  the  dead  should  be  burnt,  and  that  everything  that 
had  been  theirs  should  be  carried  to  the  pyre.  lie  said 
that  every  one  should  go  up  to  Walhalla  with  as  many 
riches  as  would  be  heaped  upon  his  pyre,  and  that  he 
should  enjoy  in  Walhalla  all  those  things  also  which  he 
had  hidden  away  in  the  earth.  The  ashes  should  be 
thrown  into  the  sea,  or  be  buried  deep  in  the  soil ;  but 
for  illustrious  men  a  mound  should  be  raised  as  a  token  of 
remembrance." 

Dr.  Blind  also  gives  in  the  same  pamphlet  the  description 
of  Beowulf  s  funeral,  to  prove  that  it  was  also  the  habit  with 
the  Anglo-Saxons  to  burn  their  dead  with  treasures : — 

"  Geatland's  men  for  him  then  made 
A  pyre  broad,  most  firmly  built, 
With  helms  bedeckt,  with  war-shields  hung, 
And  armour  bright,  as  he  them  bade. 
In  the  midst  they  laid,  the  sorrowing  heroes, 
Their  mighty  ruler,  their  beloved  lord." 

Thus  we  have  the  proof  that  in  a  remote  antiquity  it 
was  the  custom  in  Babylon,  Egypt,  Italy,  Macedonia, 
Scandinavia,  and  Germany,  to  bury  the  rich  with  their 
treasures,  and  my  excavations  have  proved  that  this  custom 
existed  also  at  Mycenae  in  the  time  of  the  Atridfe. 


No.  528.    A  Golden  Goblet  (6e7ras  on^i/cvireAAoiO,  with  dog's-head  handles. 
From  the  Tomb  south  of  the  Agora.  Half-size. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

Treasure  of  the  Tomb  South  of  the  Agora. 

Discovery  and  description  of  another  tomb  in  the  Acropolis  outside  the 
Agora — Its  Cyclopean  masonry  like  that  of  the  five  sepulchres — The 
golden  trinkets  of  this  tomb  —  Double-handled  goblets  —  A  plain 
gold  cup  ((f>td\y])  —  Spirals  and  rings  of  gold  and  silver  wire,  like 
those  of  the  Egyptian  tombs  —  A  golden  seal-ring  covered  with 
intaglio-work  —  Its  full  description  —  The  face-covers  of  the  female 
figures  prove  the  use  of  masks  during  life — A  figure  meant  for  a 
Palladium  —  Six  other  rude  figures  resembling  the  Trojan  idols : 
their  likeness  to  the  "  Corinthian  helmet"  of  Athena  —  The  work  of 
this  ring  calls  to  mind  Homer's  description  of  the  shield  of  Achilles 
—  A  smaller  golden  signet-ring,  with  four  Palladia  and  three  Hera- 
idols  —  A  beautiful  lion  of  massive  gold  —  Gold  necklace  beads  — 
Bones  of  animals  found  in  this  tomb  —  The  human  remains  pro- 
bably removed  when  the  water  conduit  was  built,  but  the  small 
jewel-recess  escaped  being  rifled  —  Three  curious  lentoid  gems  of 
necklaces,  one  found  on  the  site  of  Phcenice,  the  others  near  the 
ancient  Herseum  —  The  first  represents  Phoenician  figures  —  De- 


I877-]  DISCOVERY  OF  THE  TOMB.  351 

scription  of  the  other  two — The  Cyclopean  foundations  of  the  ancient 
Heraeum,  probably  as  old  as  the  walls  of  Tiryns  and  Mycenae  —  It 
was  destroyed  by  fire  in  423  B.C.,  and  its  site  deserted. 
Telegrams  to  and  from  the  King  of  Greece — Conclusion. 

'Athens,  March  I,  1877. 

My  engineer,  the  Lieutenant  Vasilios  Drosinos,  of  Nauplia, 
having  proceeded  on  the  20th  of  January  to  Mycenae, 
in  company  with  the  painter  D.  Tountopoulos,  who  had 
to  make  for  me  an  Ichnography  of  the  five  large 
sepulchres  and  the  circular  Agora  by  which  they  are 
surrounded,  in  verifying  the  plans  he  had  made  for  me, 
recognised,  due  south  of  the  Agora  the  form  of  a  tomb, 
the  site  of  which  is  marked  with  the  letter  P  on  the 
Plan  B,  and  of  which  I  give  a  most  accurate  separate 
plan.*  By  the  latter  it  will  be  seen  that  the  con- 
struction of  this  tomb  differs  from  that  of  the  five 
sepulchres  within  the  Agora,  for  on  its  north  side  the 
rock  is  cut  vertically  for  a  distance  of  2  metres 
(6  ft.  8  in.)  only,  whilst  on  its  east  side  it  is  cut  for  more 
than  double  the  distance  required  for  it ;  the  vertical 
height  of  this  rock  being  1  m.  70  c.  (5  ft.  8  in.)  The 
eastern  rock,  which  is  cut  vertically,  is  lined  with  a 
roughly  built  wall  of  stones  joined  without  cement,  and 
the  same  is  the  case  with  the  northern  rock,  but  here  the 
Cyclopean  wall  continues  in  a  straight  line  for  6  metres 
(20  feet),  and  thus  for  13  ft.  4  in.  farther  west  than  the 
extent  of  the  rock.  On  the  west  and  south  sides  there 
is  no  rock  at  all,  but  merely  the  same  kind  of  rude  wall, 
which  is  so  irregularly  built  that,  whilst  the  north  side 
of  the  tomb  is  20  ft.  and  the  eastern  side  13  ft.  4  in.  long, 
its  southern  side  is  1  7  ft.  4  in.  and  its  west  side  1 2  ft.  long. 
In  the  south-east  corner  of  the  tomb  the  Cyclopean 
masonry  has  been  demolished  for  a  distance  of  1  m.  80  c. 
(6  feet),  apparently  by  those  who  laid  the  water  conduit, 


*  See  Plan  G,    Tomb  south  of  the  Agora. 


352  THE  TOMB  SOUTH  OF  THE  AGORA.      [Chap.  XI. 


which,  built  of  uncut  stones  without  cement,  runs  all 
along  the  eastern  and  northern  sides  of  the  tomb,  and  is 
doubtless  much  later  than  the  latter. 

As  will  be  seen  by  Plan  G,  I  had  excavated  this  site  to 
a  depth  of  6  m.  70  c.  or  11  ft.  4  in.,  and  had  penetrated 
on  one  side  5  ft.,  on  the  other  5  ft.  4  in.  deep  within  the 
walls  of  the  tomb,  in  which  I  had  left  a  layer  of  debris 
only  1  ft.  10  in.  deep.  But  as  the  tomb  is  immediately 
east  of  the  large  Cyclopean  house,  of  which  I  had  exca- 
vated many  rooms  down  to  the  rock  without  finding 
anything  particular,  I  had  considered  the  sepulchre  as  a 
dependency  of  the  house,  and  had  not  cared  to  excavate 
the  little  debris  which  still  covered  its  site. 

But  my  most  excellent  engineer  was  more  keen-sighted. 
Being  struck  by  the  appearance  of  the  walls  built  in  a 
much  ruder  way  than  those  of  the  Cyclopean  house,  he  at 
once  recognised  the  identity  of  the  masonry  with  that  of 
the  masonry  in  the  large  tombs,  and  as  he  saw  the  northern 
wall  partly  and  the  eastern  entirely  leaning  against  the 
rock,  he  had  the  firm  conviction  that  it  was  a  sepulchre. 
Therefore  on  his  return  to  Nauplia  he  communicated  his 
important  discovery  to  a  government  clerk  of  the  name 
of  Stamatakes,  who  had  been  sent  that  very  day  by  the 
Director-general,  Mr.  P.  Eustratiades,  to  Nauplia,  in  order 
to  choose  a  place  in  the  Acropolis  of  Mycenas  on  which  to 
build  a  wooden  hut  for  the  watchmen.  Mr.  Drosinos 
indicated  to  him  on  my  plans  the  precise  site  of  the  tomb, 
and  gave  him  the  most  minute  information  in  relation  to 
it,  so  that  the  clerk  found  the  place  at  once,  and  engaged 
a  workman,  at  whose  first  or  second  blow  of  the  pickaxe 
a  golden  vessel  came  to  light,  and  in  less  than  half  an 
hour  the  following  objects  were  gathered.  First,  four  large 
golden  goblets  with  two  handles,  of  which  I  represent  one 
as  the  vignette  to  this  chapter  (No.  528).  All  the  four 
goblets  have  exactly  the  same  form  and  are  nearly  of  the 
same  size.     All  of  them  represent  the  Homeric  SeVa? 


I877-]  TWO-HANDLEU  GOBLETS.  353 

d/jL<t>LKV7re\\ov,  because  all  have  two  handles.  These  are 
attached  with  golden  nails  to  the  body  and  rim,  and  all 
of  them  terminate  in  a  dog's  head,  which  holds  the  rim  in 


1.  529.    Gold  Rings,  gold  wire  (round  and  quadrangular)  in  spirals,  and  one  Silver  Ring 
All  of  the  double  size. 


his  jaws  and  seems  to  drink  from  the  cup.  Besides  the 
dogs'  heads,  these  four  goblets  have  no  ornamentation 
whatever,  and  their  form  is  identical  with  that  of  the  cup 


45 


354  THE  TOMB  SOUTH  OF  THE  AGORA.     [Chap.  XI. 

No.  343,#  with  the  sole  difference  that  the  latter  has  only 
one  handle. 

Together  with  the  four  goblets  was  found  a  large  plain 
gold  cup  ((f)idXri).  It  has  only  one  handle,  which  is 
fastened  to  the  rim  and  body  with  four  gold  pins  with 
large  flat  heads.  There  were  further  found  four  spirals  of 
thick  quadrangular,  and  seven  spirals  of  thick  round  gold 
wire,  five  plain  gold  rings,  and  a  similar  one  of  silver,  of 
which  a  selection  is  represented  under  No.  529.  I  remind 
the  reader  that  similar  spirals  and  rings  of  thick  gold 
wire  occur  in  the  wall  paintings  of  the  Egyptian  tombs. 
They  are  supposed  to  have  served  as  presents,  or  perhaps 
as  a  medium  of  exchange. 


No.  530.    Gold  Sig net-ring,  from  the  tomb  to  the  south  of  the  Agora.    Double  size. 


In  this  tomb  was  further  found  a  gold  seal-ring  of  the 
same  form,  but  more  than  twice  as  large,  as  those  which  I 
discovered  in  the  fourth  sepulchre.!  From  the  engraving 
of  this  new  ring,  which  is  represented  in  double  size 
under  No.  530,  it  will  be  seen  that  it  is  entirely  covered 
with  intaglio  work.  To  the  left  of  the  spectator  is  re- 
presented a  tree,  whose  stem  certainly  resembles  that  of 
a  palm-tree ;  it  has  fifteen  short  branches  on  which  we 


*  See  p.  233. 


t  See  Nos.  334,  335,  p.  223. 


I877-]  MARVELLOUS  SIGNET-RING.  355 

see  no  leaves,  but  large  clusters  of  a  small  fruit,  each 
cluster  resembling  a  pine  apple;  below  the  tree  stands  a 
small  female,  who  is  leaning  over  a  little  backwards  and 
extends  both  her  hands  just  below  the  lowest  cluster  of 
fruit,  as  if  in  the  act  of  plucking  it.  My  esteemed  friend 
the  Professor  of  Botany,  Mr.  T.  Orphanides,  of  Athens, 
says  that  of  all  trees  in  Greece  this  tree  resembles  most 
a  pine,  but  that,  as  the  little  woman  is  going  to  pluck 
one  of  its  fruits,  the  fruit  must  necessarily  be  eatable,  and 
he  thinks  therefore  that  it  must  be  a  breadfruit-tree, 
because  of  all  the  fruits  of  India  the  breadfruit  most 
resembles  that  of  the  tree  before  us.  But  I  do  not 
remember  having  ever  seen  the  breadfruit-tree  in  India.  I 
have  only  seen  it  in  Central  America.  My  other  esteemed 
friend,  the  Professor  of  Botany,  von  Ileldreich,  in  Atliens, 
thinks  that  the  Mycenean  artist  intended  to  represent  here 
simply  a  vine  laden  with  bunches  of  grapes,  and  that, 
merely  by  his  ineptitude,  the  vine  has  been  represented  as  a 
thick  tree  ;  and  this  is  also  my  opinion. 

Two  long  tresses  of  hair  are  hanging  from  the  little 
woman's  head  down  on  the  back ;  her  dress  below  the 
waist  is  divided  by  two  horizontal  bands  into  three  com- 
partments, probably  to  make  us  aware  of  its  richness ; 
from  her  arms  there  project  two  bands,  which  may  be 
intended  to  represent  the  sleeves. 

On  the  other  side  of  the  tree,  and  leaning  with  her 
right  arm  against  it,  is  sitting  a  tall  woman,  with  noble 
Grecian  features.  Her  eyes  are  large  and  her  nose  projects 
in  a  straight  line  with  the  forehead,  just  as  we  see  it  on 
the  sculptures  in  the  Parthenon ;  her  head  is  covered  with 
a  turban  running  out  into  a  point,  from  beneath  which  a 
tress  of  hair  is  hanging  down  on  her  back  ;  just  above  this 
tress  we  see  two  ornaments  on  the  turban.  I  call  par- 
ticular attention  to  the  curious  sign  just  above  her  fore- 
head, which  is  no  doubt  meant  to  represent  her  diadem ; 
but  I  have  not  found  a  diadem  of  this  kind  in  any  of  the 


356 


THE  TOMB  SOUTH  OF  THE  AGORA.      [Chap.  XI 


five  tombs.  The  upper  part  of  her  dress  is  tightly  fitted 
to  the  body,  but  nevertheless  the  woman's  two  breasts  pro- 
trude. The  lower  part  of  her  dress  is  ornamented  with 
a  large  number  of  horizontal  bands,  and  is  in  the  form  of 
wide  pantaloons  which  end  at  the  ankles  in  crescents.  Her 
right  hand  rests  on  her  waist,  and  she  holds  in  her  up- 
lifted left  hand  three  poppies,  which  she  appears  to  offer 
to  a  tall  woman,  splendidly  dressed,  who  is  standing  before 
her  and  extends  her  right  hand  towards  the  flowers. 

The  head  of  this  tall  standing  woman  is  covered  with  a 
sort  of  turban,  which  strikingly  resembles  the  turbans  now 
worn  in  India,  with  the  difference  that  here  the  turban 
runs  out  into  a  point,  from  which  a  long  ornament  hangs 
down  on  the  back.  A  further  difference  is  that  from  the 
forepart  of  the  turban  there  projects  a  sort  of  mask,  on 
which  the  two  eyes  and  the  nose  are  well  represented,  but 
here  this  mask  is  lifted,  and  we  see  the  woman's  eyes  from 
below  it ;  a  third  difference  between  this  and  an  Indian 
turban  is  that  from  its  right  side,  on  the  left  of  the 
spectator,  hangs  down  a  band  which  must  also  represent 
an  ornament ;  a  fourth  difference  is  the  strange  ornament 
which  we  see  just  above  the  forehead,  and  which  must  be  a 
sort  of  diadem.  The  features  of  this  woman  are  certainly 
masculine  and  her  hair  is  cut  short,  but  the  artist  wished 
her  sex  to  be  distinctly  understood  and  gave  her  two  large 
pTotruding  breasts.  Just  above  her  breasts  we  see  two 
horizontal  bands,  which  may  be  intended  to  represent 
necklaces ;  but  we  ought  not  to  leave  unnoticed  the  long 
band  which  hangs  from  her  right  shoulder.  Her  lower 
dress  seems  also  to  be  in  the  shape  of  enormously  wide 
pantaloons,  and  from  the  loins  downward  we  see  on  the 
dress  of  each  leg  five  large  curved  parallel  bands,  which 
can  have  no  other  object  than  to  represent  the  splendour 
and  costliness  of  her  attire:  these  bands  become  more 
curved  the  lower  they  are,  and  the  lowest  is  exactly  in  the 
form  of  a  crescent.    Below  the  extremity  of  the  panta- 


1877-3  MARVELLOUS  SIGNET-RING.  357 

loons  we  see  that  the  woman  wears  drawers,  which  are 
fastened  with  clasps.  Above  the  forepart  of  this  woman's 
turban  is  again  represented  an  ornament,  the  nature  of 
which  cannot  be  discerned. 

Just  below  her  outstretched  right  arm  we  see  another 
small  female  figure,  probably  a  child,  holding  in  each  of 
its  extended  hands  an  object,  the  nature  of  which  we  are 
unable  to  discern,  and  which  it  seems  to  offer  to  the  seated 
woman.  The  child's  head  is  covered  with  a  turban,  and  a 
long  tress  of  hair,  or  some  ornament,  is  hanging  down 
its  back.  It  wears  a  necklace,  and  its  dress  is  divided 
by  horizontal  parallel  bands  into  three  or  four  compart- 
ments.   The  features  of  the  child  are  very  expressive. 

Just  above  the  extended  hand  of  the  tall  standing 
woman  we  see  two  double  axes  on  one  handle,  exactly 
like  those  on  the  Tenedian  medals  and  those  between  the 
horns  of  the  cows  (Nos.  329,  330),  but  richly  ornamented. 
The  second  double  axe  is  seen  projecting  on  both  sides 
from  behind  the  first  one.  The  handle  of  these  axes, 
which  runs  out  into  a  sharp  point,  is  artistically  made. 

Behind  this  tall  standing  woman  stands  another,  whose 
dress  I  shall  not  describe,  as  it  is  perfectly  identical  with 
that  of  her  companion,  and  above  the  forepart  of  her 
turban  we  see  the  same  strange  ornament,  the  nature  of 
which  cannot  be  recognised.  Very  visible  is  her  Indian 
turban  which  also  terminates  in  a  point,  and  from  which 
a  long  band-like  ornament  hangs  down  on  her  back.  The 
mask,  which  projects  from  the  forepart  of  her  turban, 
closely  covers  the  upper  part  of  her  face  and  her  nose;  it 
contains  openings  for  the  eyes,  for  her  large  left  eye  is 
glancing  out  from  it.  I  call  very  particular  attention  to 
the  vizors  of  both  these  women,  because  they  give  us  the 
most  unmistakable  proof  that  masks  were  not  only  used 
for  the  dead  but  that  they  were  also  worn  by  the  living. 
She  holds  in  her  uplifted  right  hand  three  objects,  whose 
form  certainly  resembles  that  which  we  see  on  the  forepart 


358  THE  TOMB  SOUTH  OF  THE  AGORA.      [Chap.  XI. 

of  the  turban  of  the  seated  woman.  In  her  left  she  holds 
two  flowers  with  long  stalks,  which  Professor  Orphanides 
thinks  to  be  lilies.  From  her  left  shoulder  we  see  project- 
ing two  bands,  and  another  from  her  left  elbow.  Like  her 
tall  companion,  she  is  barefooted,  but  wears  drawers,  and 
on  her  right  foot  is  distinctly  visible  the  ornament  with 
which  the  drawers  are  fastened. 

Just  above  the  strange  objects  which  this  second  tall 
standing  woman  holds  in  her  right  hand,  we  see  a  curious 
figure  holding  a  long  staff,  meant  probably  to  represent  a 
lance ;  her  head  is  shown  in  profile ;  the  rest  of  her  body, 
which  is  given  in  full  view,  consists  of  two  circles,  of  which 
the  upper  one  represents  the  upper  part  of  the  body  from 
the  neck  to  the  waist,  and  the  lower  one  the  lower  part  of 
the  body  as  far  as  the  loins ;  no  legs  are  shown  and  only 
one  arm  is  seen  ;  from  the  back  project  two  long  bands. 
The  two  circles  of  which  the  body  consists  have  a  small 
border,  and  look  altogether  like  shields ;  but  that  shields 
were  not  intended  to  be  represented  is  shown  by  the  two 
points  indicating  the  breasts. 

This  rudely  represented  figure,  in  the  presence  of  the 
splendidly  dressed  women,  can  in  my  opinion  be  nothing 
else  than  a  Palladium  of  a  very  ancient  and  primitive  type, 
which,  like  that  of  the  cow-headed  or  horned  Hera-idols, 
was,  on  account  of  the  sanctity  attached  to  it,  subject  to  no 
caprice  of  fashion  and  remained  for  ages  unchanged. 

The  border  of  the  seal,  between  the  Palladmm  and  the 
feet  of  the  second  tall  woman,  is  filled  up  by  six  objects  of  a 
strange  form  with  heads  and  eyes,  also  with  a  kind  of 
helmet.  From  the  great  resemblance  of  these  six  objects 
to  the  Trojan  idols*  we  believe  that  they  also  are  meant 
to  represent  Palladia.  But  Professor  Rhousopoulos  re- 
minds me  of  the  great  similarity  of  these  six  figures  to 
the  Kpavos  KopivdiaKov,  or  Corinthian  helmet  of  Pallas 


*  See  '  Troy  and  its  Remains,'  p.  36. 


1877.]  MARVELLOUS  SIGNET-RING.  359 

Athena,  as  represented  on  the  Corinthian  coins  of  the  fourth 
century  B.C.,  and  to  the  same  helmet  on  the  three  bronze 
busts  of  that  goddess,  in  natural  size,  of  which  one  is  in  the 
British  Museum,  the  second  in  the  Ministry  of  Public 
Instruction  at  Athens,  and  the  third  in  a  private  house  in 
the  Pinrus.  The  forepart  of  the  helmet  is  represented, 
on  the  Corinthian  coins  and  on  the  bust  of  the  goddess,  as 
drawn  up,  because  she  only  drew  it  over  her  face  when  she 
was  fighting.  On  this  forepart  of  the  helmet  we  see  the  two 
eyes,  the  nose,  and  the  mouth  ;  consequently  it  represents 
a  mask,  and  gives  an  additional  proof  that  it  was  customary 
to  wear  masks. 

The  resemblance  between  the  six  figures  and  the  Kpdvos 
KopivdiaKov  is  certainly  striking  ;  the  latter  was  assuredly  not 
invented  in  the  fourth  century  B.C.,  but  it  has  certainly  been 
copied  from  a  very  ancient  idol,  and  I  have  not  the  slightest 
doubt  that  the  six  figures  represent  this  very  same  idol. 

Finally,  we  see  near  the  top  two  waving  lines  which 
cannot  possibly  represent  anything  else  than  the  sea, 
which  is  represented  in  like  manner  on  the  coins  of 
Tarentum.  From  the  sea  rises  to  the  left  the  sun  in  full 
splendour,  the  rays  being  well  represented,  and  to  his  left 
(to  the  right  of  the  spectator)  rises  the  crescent  of  the 
moon.  On  seeing  this  marvellous  ring,  Mrs.  Schliemann 
and  I  involuntarily  exclaimed,  "This  ring  must  have  been 
seen  by  Homer  before  he  described  all  the  wonders  which 
Heplwcstus  wrought  on  the  shield  of  Achilles."  * 

•  //.  XVIII.  483-489  :— 

'Ev  n'tv  7a7ai'  (rtv£,  iv  $'  ovpavov.  iv  Si  9d\aoaav, 

'Hi\ii>v  t'  dndfiavra,  2t\i)vt]v  Tf  n\r)0ov(rav, 

iv  Si  to  Ttipta  irdvra,  tot'  ovpavbs  i(TTf<pdvwrat, 

TWyidSas  8'  'TaSos  Tf,  t6,  Tf  oBfvos  'flplwvos, 

"ApKTov  6',  $iv  Kai  uuu£ui-  iirli<Kri<Ttv  KaKtovaiv, 

J)t'  o''Tou  <TTpf <pt rai,  «al  t'  'Clplwva  Soxfu'fi. 

olr)  5'  &)ifiop6i  ion  Kotrpwv  'nKtavoio. 

"  There  he  wrought  earth,  sea,  and  heaven, 
There  he  set  th'  unwearying  sun, 
And  the  waxing  moon,  and  stars  that 
Crown  the  blue  vault  every  one  ; 


360  THE  TOMB  SOUTH  OF  THE  AGORA.      [Chap.  XI. 

Lying  together  with  this  was  found  another  somewhat 
smaller  golden  signet-ring,  which  I  likewise  represent  in 
double  size  (No.  531).  We  see  on  this  signet  not  less  than 
four  Palladia  and  three  Hera-idols  in  good  intaglio  work. 
The  former  perfectly  resemble  the  Trojan  idols  of  Pallas 
Athena  ;*  only  there  is  a  slight  difference  in  the  head, 
which  is  here  a  little  less  obtuse,  and  may  be  intended  to 
be  represented  with  a  helmet.  The  Palladium  in  the  lower 
row  to  the  left  is  exactly  like  the  Trojan  idols ;  but  it  is  a 
little  effaced,  and  above  it  we  see  three  ears  of  corn.  Of 
the  Hera-idols  in  the  form  of  cow-heads  with  two  horns,  we 
see  one  in  the  upper  and  two  in  the  lower  row ;  the  horns 


No.  531.    Second  Gold  Signet-ring,  found  in  the  same  tomb.    Double  size. 


of  the  two  latter  are  particularly  long,  and  between  those  of 
the  head  to  the  left  of  the  spectator  we  see  two  smaller 
ones ;  therefore  this  cow-head  has  four  horns.    At  the 


Pleiads,  Hyads,  strong  Orion, 

Arctos,  hight  to  boot  the  Wain. 
He  upon  Orion  waiting, 

Only  he  of  all  the  train 
Shunning  still  the  baths  of  ocean 
Wheels  and  wheels  his  round  again." 

From  Mr.  Gladstone's  translation  of  the  "  Shield  of  Achilles  "  in  the 
Contemporary  Review,  Feb.  1874  ;  vol.  xxiii.  p.  337,  New  Series. 
*  See  'Troy  and  its  Remains,'  p.  36. 


I877-]  GOLDEN  LION  AND  BEADS.  361 

right  end  of  the  upper  row  is  represented  a  curious  object 
which  I  cannot  well  distinguish  ;  if  we  turn  the  engraving 
to  the  right,  it  looks  like  a  bird.  Between  the  two  rows 
are  eleven  signs,  resembling  eyes. 

Together  with  the  two  signet  rings  was  found  the 
beautiful  massive  golden  lion,  which  is  represented  in 
double  size  (No.  532).    It  is  fastened  on  a  thick  golden 


No.  533.    Golden  Lion,  Irom  the  HUM  tomb.    Double  jik. 

wire,  and  is  represented  lying  down,  with  the  head  facing 
the  spectator  j  and  both  the  head  and  the  rest  of  the  body 
are  perfectly  faithful  to  nature.  I  share  Mr.  Newton's 
opinion  that  the  lion  has  been  cast  and  tooled. 

There  were  further  found  fourteen  golden  beads  of  a 
necklace,  of  which  I  represent  six  (Nos.  533-538);  they 


Nos.  533-538     Gold  Heads  of  a  Necklace  from  the  same  tomb.    Double  size. 


are  ornamented  all  round  with  four  rows  of  globular  pro- 
jecting points. 

As  will  be  seen  by  Plan  G,  all  the  above-described 
jewels  were  found  together  in  one  spot,  which  was  only 
2  ft.  long  and  8  in.  broad,  and  precisely  6  m.  qo  c,  or 
23  ft.,  below  the  surface  of  the  soil  before  the  beginning 
of  my  excavations,  or  only  8  in.  below  the  surface  of  my 


46 


362  THE  TOMB  SOUTH  OF  THE  AGORA.      [Chap.  XI. 

excavation,  as  I  left  it  on  the  6th  of  December  last.  It 
further  appears  by  Plan  G,  that  the  debris  below  the  site 
of  the  jewels  was  still  1  ft.  2  in.  deep. 

There  were  found  bones  in  this  tomb,  which  were  at 
first  thought  by  us  to  be  human  bones,  but  my  esteemed 
friend  Dr.  Theodoros  Aretasos,  the  celebrated  Athenian 
surgeon,  who  has  examined  them,  declares  them  to  be  the 
bones  of  animals.  As  before  stated,  the  Cyclopean  water- 
conduit,  represented  in  Plan  G,  was  evidently  built  at  a 
later  prehistoric  period  than  that  to  which  the  tomb 
belongs,  and  its  builders,  who  necessarily  had  to  excavate 
the  tomb  down  to  the  virgin  rock,  no  doubt  robbed  it  of 
its  contents  and  threw  away  the  bones  of  the  skeleton  ; 
but,  luckily  that  small  place  near  the  wall  (only  2  ft.  long 
and  8  in.  broad),  where  the  above  jewels  lay,  was  not  dug 


Nos.  539-541.    Three  Lentoid  Gems  of  Serpentine  and  Agate  with  intaglio-work,  found  on  the  site 
of  Phcenice  and  of  the  Herasum.    Actual  size. 

up  by  them,  and  therefore  the  jewels  have  been  saved  for 
science.* 

Lastly,  I  represent  three  lentoid  gems  of  necklaces 
which  I  have  bought  in  Chonika,  a  village  situated  in  the 
Plain  of  Argos,  close  to  the  site  of  the  ancient  city  of 
Phoenice  (^owuoy),  and  at  a  distance  of  one  English  mile 
from  the  ancient  Heraeum.  I  call  the  attention  of  the 
reader  to  the  name  Chonika,  which  is  nothing  but  a 
corruption  of  the  name  <t>oivUr). 

The  two  peasants,  who  sold  me  the  three  lentoid  gems, 


*  The  spot  where  the  jewels  were  found  is  marked  by  the  letter  (a), 
both  on  the  plan  and  section  (Plan  G). 


I877-]  LENTOID  GEMS  BOUGHT  IN  CHONIKA.  363 

said  that  they  had  found  the  middle  one  in  labouring  on 
the  site  of  Phoenice,  and  the  other  two  close  to  the  site 
of  the  ancient  Heraeum.  I  have  no  reason  to  doubt  their 
statement  to  be  correct,  because,  as  the  name  sufficiently 
proves,  Phoenice  was  a  Phoenician  colony,  and  the  middle 
gem  (No.  540)  which  is  said  to  have  been  found  there,  most 
decidedly  represents  two  Phoenician  figures,  probably  very 
ancient  types  of  idols.  Their  heads  are  marked  by  a  mere 
horizontal  hollow,  and  no  face  is  shown  ;  their  necks  are 
very  long,  and  their  shoulders,  which,  like  all  the  rest  of 
their  bodies,  are  rectilinear,  arc  enormously  broad.  Very 
characteristic  are  their  long  legs  and  their  feet,  which 
rather  resemble  horse-hoofs  than  human  feet ;  one  man 
holds  in  his  right  hand,  and  the  other  in  his  left,  a  zigzag, 
probably  intended  to  represent  a  symbol  of  fire  and  perhaps 
lightning.  The  very  short  left  hand  of  the  man  to  the 
left  of  the  spectator  is  uplifted,  and  seems  to  hold  some 
object,  whilst  the  left  hand  of  the  other  figure  is  very  long 
and  nearly  touches  the  ground.  Over  the  right  shoulder 
of  the  man  to  the  left  of  the  spectator  is  a  strange  sign, 
perhaps  a  written  character,  and  an  arrow-like  sign  is  close 
to  the  neck  of  the  other  man  ;  to  both  these  signs  I  call 
particular  attention.  This  lentoid  gem  is  of  dark  red 
agate,  semi-globular,  and  has  a  horizontal  perforation. 

The  lentoid  gem  to  the  left  of  this  (No.  539),  as  seen 
by  the  spectator,  is  of  greenish  serpentine.  It  is  convex  on 
both  sides  and  has  likewise  a  horizontal  perforation.  It 
represents,  in  beautiful  intaglio,  two  horses  standing  on 
their  hind-legs  opposite  each  other,  their  heads  leaning 
over  in  opposite  directions.  The  tail  of  the  horse  to  the 
left  of  the  spectator  is  represented  by  a  mere  band ;  that 
of  the  other  is  bushy ;  to  the  head  of  each  horse  is  attached 
an  ornament,  which  probably  belongs  to  the  trappings. 
Between  the  heads  of  the  horses  we  see  two  human  figures, 
of  which  that  to  the  left  of  the  spectator  has  a  Phrygian 
cap  on  its  head,  and  extends  its  hands  towards  the  other 


364 


ANCIENT  HER/EUM. 


[Chap.  XI. 


figure,  whose  head  seems  to  be  uncovered,  and  which  is 
holding  a  round  object  in  its  only  hand  which  is  visible. 

On  the  third  lentoid  gem  (No.  541),  which  is  an  agate 
of  variegated  white  and  brown  colour,  also  convex  and 
horizontally  perforated,  we  see  a  much  more  artistic 
intaglio  work,  representing  a  Hera-idol,  in  the  form  of  a 
cow-head,  with  two  long  horns,  in  perfectly  faithful  imita- 
tion of  nature.  Between  the  two  horns  we  see,  head 
downward,  an  ornamented  double-edged  axe,  with  its 
handle,  the  extremity  of  which  is  ornamented  with  two 
rings  or  turned  buttons.  To  the  right  and  left  of  the 
cow-head  we  see  a  beautifully  ornamented  object,  the 
nature  of  which  we  are  unable  to  explain ;  it  resembles  a 
cornucopiae. 

I  remind  the  reader  that  this  lentoid  gem,  as  well  as 
the  other  with  the  two  horses,  was  found  close  to  the 
ancient  Herasum,  of  which  the  foundations,  consisting 
of  various  courses  of  Cyclopean  masonry  of  enormous 
uncut  blocks,  still  exist,  and  may  be  as  old  and  even 
older  than  the  walls  of  Mycenas  and  Tiryns.  But  my 
explorations  on  the  site,  in  February,  1874,  have  shown 
that  the  accumulation  of  dtbvis  there  does  not  exceed 
ii  to  3  ft.  in  depth,  and  consequently  excavations  there 
are  impossible.  The  ancient  Heraeum  was  accidentally 
destroyed  by  fire  in  423  B.C.,  and  its  site  has  remained 
deserted,  the  new  Herasum  being  built  on  the  slope,  about 
50  ft.  below  the  ancient  one. 


On  the  discovery  of  the  Treasures  of  the  Royal 
Sepulchres,  I  had  the  honour  of  addressing  a  telegram 
to  His  Majesty,  the  King  of  the  Hellenes,  which  I  insert 
here,  with  His  Majesty's  gracious  reply  : — 


I877-]  GIFT  OF  THE  TREASURES  TO  GREECE. 


365 


"A  Sa  Majeste  le  Roi  George  des  Hellenes,  Athenes. 

"  Avec  une  extreme  joie  j'annonce  a  Votre  Majeste 
que  j'ai  decouvert  les  tombeaux  que  la  tradition,  dont 
Pausanias  se  fait  l'echo,  designait  comme  Jes  sqmlcres 
d' Agamemnon,  de  Cassandra,  d'Eurymedon  et  de  leurs 
camarades,  tous  tues  pendant  le  repas  par  Clytemncstre  et 
son  amant  Egisthe.  lis  etaient  entoures  d'un  double 
cercle  parallele  de  plaques,  qui  ne  peut  avoir  e're  erige 
qu'en  honneur  des  dits  grands  personnages.  J'ai  trouve 
dans  les  sepulcres  des  tresors  immenses  en  fait  d'objets 
archai'ques  en  or  pur.  Ces  tresors  suffisent  a  eux  seuls  a 
remplir  un  grand  musee,  qui  sera  le  plus  merveilleux  du 
monde,  et  qui,  pendant  des  siecles  a  venir,  attirera  en 
Grece  des  milliers  d'ctrangers  de  tous  les  pays.  Comme  je 
travaille  par  pur  amour  pour  la  science,  je  n'ai  naturelle- 
ment  aucune  pretention  a  ces  trdsors,  que  je  donne,  avec 
un  vif  enthousiasme,  intacts  a  la  Grece.  Que  Dieu  veuille 
que  ces  tresors  deviennent  la  pierre  angulaire  d'une  im- 
mense richesse  nationale  T 

"  IIknky  Schliemanx. 

"  Mycenes,  16  (28)  Novembre  1876." 

His  Majesty's  Reply:  — 
"Monsieur  le  Docteur  Schliemann,  Akgos. 

"  J'ai  l'honneur  de  vous  annoncer  que  Sa  Majeste  le 
Roi,  ayant  rci^u  votre  depeche,  a  daigne  me  charger  de 
vous  remercier  de  votre  zele  et  amour  pour  la  science, 
et  de  vous  feliciter  de  vos  importantes  decouvertes,  et  Sa 
Majeste  espere  que  vos  efforts  seront  toujours  couronnes 
d'aussi  heureux  succes. 

"  Le  Secretaire  de  S.M.  Hellenique, 

"A.  Calinskis." 


366  CONCLUSION. 

I  cannot  conclude  without  mentioning  the  names  of 
my  esteemed  friends,  Professor  Euthymios  Castorches,  Pro- 
fessor Stephanos  Coumanoudes,  and  Professor  Kokkides, 
of  Athens,  and  thanking  them  here  publicly  for  all  the 
kindness  they  have  shown  me  during  the  time  of  my  toil- 
some excavations  at  Mycenae. 

I  also  deem  it  my  agreeable  duty  to  thank  here 
publicly  my  excellent  engineer,  the  sagacious  Lieutenant 
Vasilios  Drosinos,  for  his  scrupulous  care  and  attention 
in  making  all  the  plans  of  Mycenae,  as  well  as  for  the 
great  service  he  has  rendered  to  archaeology  by  promptly 
indicating  to  the  government  clerk  the  tomb  which  he 
had  discovered  in  my  excavations,  so  that  its  contents 
could  be  saved  for  science. 

I  further  fulfil  an  agreeable  duty  in  warmly  recom- 
mending to  all  visitors  to  Athens  the  most  excellent 
photographers,  Messrs.  Roma'ides  Brothers,  from  whose 
wonderful  photographs  all  the  engravings  of  this  work 
have  been  made  ;*  in  fact,  I  do  not  exaggerate  if  I  assure 
the  reader  that  their  photographs  can  hardly  ever  be 
excelled. 

It  is  also  my  pleasant  duty  to  thank  publicly  the 
celebrated  printers,  Messrs.  William  Clowes  and  Sons, 
of  London,  who  printed  this  book,  as  well  as  the  most 
excellent  engravers,  Messrs.  J.  W.  Whymper  and  J.  D. 
Cooper,  who  made  all  the  engravings,  for  the  superior 
skill  and  the  unremitting  zeal  and  scrupulous  attention 
with  which  they  have  executed  their  part  in  the  work. 

Lastly,  I  here  express  my  warmest  gratitude  to  the 
learned  publisher  of  this  work,  my  most  esteemed  friend, 
Mr.  John  Murray,  as  well  as  to  my  most  excellent  learned 
friend  Mr.  Philip  Smith,  for  all  the  kind  services  they  have 
rendered  me  and  all  the  valuable  assistance  they  have  lent 
me  in  carrying  out  the  present  work. 


*  Except  the  body  (No.  454,  p.  297),  and  a  few  diagrams  and  new 
drawings  of  objects,  besides  the  Plans. 


DR.  PERCY'S  ANALYSIS. 


367 


ANALYSIS  OF  MYCENEAN  METALS. 

Mr.  P.  EUSTRATIADES,  the  Director  of  the  Antiquities  of 
Greece,  having  kindly  given  me  some  specimens  of  the  Myce- 
nean  metals,  I  thought  I  could  not  do  better  than  submit 
them  for  analysis  to  the  celebrated  chemist  and  metallurgist, 
Dr.  PERCY,  in  London,  to  whom  I  cannot  adequately  express 
my  gratitude  for  his  invaluable  Report.  I  would  especially 
direct  the  reader's  attention  to  the  evidence,  which  is  suggested 
by  the  analysis,  of  the  extensive  use  at  Mycena;  of  what  is  probably 
native  gold, — to  that  use  of  gold  largely  alloyed  with  silver  which, 
when  carried  somewhat  further,  produced  the  well-known  elcctrnm, 
of  which  I  found  several  goblets  in  the  ruins  of  prehistoric  Troy, — 
and  to  the  new  light  thrown  on  the  question  of  the  Homeric 
^a\/c6?  (so  largely  discussed  by  Mr.  Gladstone)  by  the  proof 
that  both  copper  and  bronze  were  in  use  in  the  heroic  age  of 
Mycena;,  but  that  the  weapons  (and  some  of  the  vases)  were 
of  bronze,  while  the  domestic  utensils,  such  as  kettles,  were  of 
copper.  Thus  the  metal  of  a  sword  from  one  of  the  royal  sepul- 
chres contains  a  little  more  than  86  per  cent,  of  copper  and 
above  13  per  cent,  of  tin,  and  that  of  a  vase-handle  contains 
nearly  90  per  cent,  of  copper  and  above  10  of  tin  ;  whereas  that 
of  a  kettle  contains  98-47  per  cent,  of  copper,  and  a  mere  trace 
of  tin.  1  would  remind  the  reader  that  of  the  Trojan  bronze 
battle-axes  the  one  contained  only  4  per  cent.,  the  second  8  per 
cent.,  and  the  third  about  9  per  cent.,  of  tin.* 

The  course  taken  by  Dr.  Percy  to  effect  the  analysis  is  de- 
scribed in  the  following  letter  with  which  he  has  favoured  me : — 

DEAR  DR.  SCHLIEMANN,  London,  Auguit  10,  .877. 

I  have  now  the  pleasure  of  communicating  to  you  the  results  of  the 
examination  of  the  various  specimens  of  metal  which  you  placed  in  my 
hands  for  that  purpose.  A  considerable  time  and  very  great  care  have 
been  required  to  complete  this  work  ;  and  I  must  ask  you  to  be  so  good  as 
to  state  that  the  analytical  investigation,  with  two  exceptions,  has  bun 
wholly  conducted  by  my  able  assistant,  Mr.  Richard  Smith,  in  the  Metal- 
lurgical Laboratory  of  the  Royal  School  of  Mines,  London.  Mr.  Smith,  I 
can  assure  you,  has  laboured  most  earnestly  and  heartily  in  this  investi- 
gation ;  and  whatever  credit  there  may  be  is  due  to  him.  Some  of  the 
results  are,  I  think,  both  novel  and  important,  in  a  metallurgical  as  well  as 
archaeological  point  of  view. 

I  remain,  yours  very  truly, 

John  Percy,  m.i>.,  k.k.s. 

Lecturer  on  Metallurgy  at  the  Royal 
Dr.  SCHLIEMANN.  School  of  Mines  London,  &c. 


*  See  '  Troy  and  its  Remains,'  p.  361 . 


368  MYCENEAN  METALS. 

I.— ARGENTIFEROUS  GOLD  FOIL.     (No.  542.) 

The  whole  of  the  specimen  weighed  2-177  grains,  and  its 
thickness  varied  from  i-500th  to  1 -600th  of  an  inch.  It 
was  one  of  those  gold  leaves  which  were  found  strewn  in  vast 
numbers  about  the  bodies.  It  was  much  crumpled,  of  a  reddish 
yellow  colour,  and  both  surfaces  appeared  as  if  they  had  been 
varnished  or  lacquered.    A  sketch  of  the  specimen  is  annexed 

of  the  actual  size.  By  heating, 
the  metal  becomes  much  paler  in 
colour  and  assumes  a  greenish 
yellow  tinge,  a  volatile  substance, 
probably  organic,  being  given  off 
at  the  same  time.  The  colour 
of  the  metal  is  not  affected  by 
digestion  in  warm  alcohol,  ether, 
or  benzole  ;  but  by  boiling  it  in  a 
strong  aqueous  solution  of  caustic 
potash,  it  loses  its  red  tinge,  and 
becomes  paler,  though  not  so  pale 
as  when  heated.  n68  grain  of  the  metal,  by  cleaning  with 
warm  water,  dilute  hydrochloric  acid,  and  finally  gentle  rubbing, 
lost  0'0i5  grain,  which  is  equal  to  a  loss  of  i-28  per  cent.  The 
it 53  grain  of  cleaned  metal  was  submitted  to  analysis,  with 
the  following  results  : — 

Composition  per  Cent. 


Gold  ..  ..  ..  ..  ..  73*11 

Silver  ..  ..  ..  ..  2337 

Copper  ..  ..  ..  ..  ..  2*22 

Lead  ..  ..  ..  ..  0*35 

Iron  ..  ..  ..  ..  ..  0*24 


99-29 


From  the  composition  of  the  specimen  it  may  be  inferred 
that  it  was  an  artificial  alloy,  as  the  amount  of  copper  and  lead 
present  is,  so  far  as  we  know,  much  larger  than  has  ever  been 
found  in  "  native  gold  "  from  any  locality.  The  presence  of  the 
lead  is  probably  owing  to  the  fact  of  the  silver  used  in  preparing 
the  alloy  having  been  refined,  though  imperfectly,  by  means  of 
lead.  The  large  proportion  of  silver  present  may  have  been  used 
to  economise  the  gold.  An  alloy  composed  of  75  per  cent,  of  gold 


No.  542. 

A  piece  of  Argentiferous  Gold  Foil. 
Sepulchre  IV.    Actual  size. 


DR.  PERCY'S  ANALYSIS. 


369 


and  25  per  cent,  of  silver  has  a  distinct  gold-yellow  colour  ;  but 
when  the  silver  amounts  to  33-33  per  cent,  the  alloy  is  much  paler 
in  colour,  and  alloys  containing  more  than  about  that  proportion 
of  silver  would  cease  to  be  designated  as  gold  ;  the  presence  of 
copper  would  tend  to  counteract  the  paleness  imparted  by  silver 
to  gold. 

The  alteration  in  colour  produced  by  heating  the  metal 
may  possibly  be  due  not  only  to  the  removal  of  a  coating  of 
organic  matter  from  its  surface,  but  also  to  the  following  action. 
It  is  well  known  that  an  alloy  of  silver  and  gold,  which  contains 
so  much  of  the  former  metal  as  to  resemble  it  in  colour,  may 
be  made  to  acquire  the  colour  of  gold  by  superficially  removing 
the  silver.  This  may  be  effected  by  various  processes,  some  of 
which,  there  is  reason  to  believe,  were  known  to  the  ancients. 
When  such  alloys  of  silver  and  gold  as  those  above  mentioned 
are  heated  to  redness  for  a  certain  time,  after  having  acquired 
superficially  the  colour  of  gold  by  any  of  the  processes  in  ques- 
tion, they  resume  their  original  silvery  colour.  The  large  oval 
medal-like  coins  of  the  Japanese  furnish  an  excellent  illustration 
of  this  fact.  Such  a  coin  has  been  found  in  the  Laboratory  of 
the  Royal  School  of  Mines  to  consist  of  about  two  parts  by 
weight  of  silver,  and  one  part  of  gold.  On  heating  such  an  alloy 
sufficiently,  it  becomes  almost  silver-white  ;  and  on  subsequently 
treating  it  with  hot  sulphuric  acid  the  original  golden  colour  is 
restored. 


II. — SHEET  GOLD.    (No.  543.) 

The  total  weight  of  the  specimen  was  1702  grain,  and  its 
thickness  was  about  i-iooth  of  an  inch.     Its  specific  gravity  at 
6o°  Fahr.  was  18  867.    Annexed  is  a  sketch  of 
the  specimen,  of  the  actual  size.    It  was  yellow, 
soft,   ductile,  and  marked  or  indented  on  the 
surface,    which    appeared    as    though    slightly    a  Pie«  Jrshect 
tarnished.     After   cleaning   with   warm    water,  Gold.  Sepuidwiv. 

0  Actual  RgSy 

dilute    hydrochloric  acid,    and   gentle  rubbing, 
the  metal  weighed   1698  grain,  which  is  equal  to  a  loss  of 
0235  per  cent,    ingrain  of  the  cleaned  metal  was  analysed 
with  the  following  results  : — 


47 


37° 


MYCENEAN  METALS. 


Composition  per  Cent. 


Gold 
Silver 


89-36 
8-55 


Copper 
Iron 


0-57 


98-68 


The  absence  of  lead  suggests  that  possibly  the  metal  may- 
have  been  native  gold,  or  prepared  with  native  gold,  of  which 
silver  is  always  a  constituent  in  varying  proportions. 


III.— PART  OF  A  SILVER  VASE. 


A  sketch  of  this,  of  the  same  size  as  the  original,  is  annexed  ; 
it  was  distinctly  curved,  having  formed  part  of  a  hollow  thin 
vessel. 

The  total  weight  of  the  specimen  was  44-36  grains.  The 
metal   was  much   corroded  on  both   surfaces.      The  convex 


When  broken  across,  the  fractured  surface  of  the  crust  on  both 
sides  of  the  metal  was  found  to  be  in  two  distinct  layers ; 
that  next  the  metal  was  black,  dull,  somewhat  sectile,  and  easily 
broken  ;  while  the  other,  or  outer  layer,  was  light-grey,  soft,  sectile, 
and  wax-like.  In  some  places  the  metal  was  corroded  com- 
pletely through.  The  crust  was  removed  by  warm  dilute 
ammonia-water  and  gentle  rubbing ;  the  residual  metal  was 
found  to  be  very  brittle,  much  pitted  on  the  surface,  dull  white 
in  fracture,  granular,  and  containing  minute  irregular  cavities  ; 
no  appearance  of  fibre  or  crystalline  structure  was  observed, 
even  with  the  aid  of  the  microscope.  By  annealing,  the  softness 
and  malleability  of  the  metal  were  restored  in  a  marked  degree. 
The  thickness  of  the  specimen,  inclusive  of  the  crust  on  one 


Fragments  of  a  Silver  Vase.  Sepulchre  IV.  Actual  size. 
No.  544.  Convex  Surface.    No.  545.  Concave  Surface. 


544  545 


or  outer  surface  was 
completely  covered 
with  a  somewhat  ir- 
regular crust  while 
the  concave  or  inner 
surface  was  only 
partly  covered  with 
a  similar  crust,  and 
partly  with  a  yellow- 
ish, tarnishlike  film. 


DR.  PERCY'S  ANALYSIS. 


371 


surface  only,  was  1  -2 5th  of  an  inch  ;  and  where  the  crust  was 
thickest  it  was  l-20th  of  an  inch.  The  thickness  of  the  metal, 
after  the  removal  of  the  crust  by  dilute  ammonia-water  and 
rubbing,  was  I -40th  of  an  inch. 

A  portion  of  the  specimen  was  selected  for  analysis  to  which 
the  crust  was  attached  on  the  convex  or  outer  surface  only,  and 
which  was  comparatively  free  from  crust  on  the  opposite  surface  ; 
the  quantity  operated  on  was  1 5786  grains.  By  repeated  treat- 
ment with  warm  moderately  strong  ammonia-water,  gentle 
rubbing,  and  washing  with  warm  water,  the  crust  was  easily 
removed  ;  most  of  it  being  dissolved  by  the  ammonia-water, 
which  became  pale  blue,  while  the  insoluble  part  was  left  as 
a  brownish  black  powder,  intermixed  with  some  particles  of 
metallic  silver.  The  metal,  after  this  treatment  and  drying, 
weighed  1 11S23  grains.  The  metal  itself  (a),  the  portion  of  the 
crust  soluble  in  ammonia-water  (b),  and  the  residue  insoluble  in 
ammonia-water  (c)  were  separately  analysed,  with  the  following 
results  :- 


(a)  Metal. 


{b)  Crust. 
Portion 
soluble  in 
ammonia-water. 


(c)  Crust. 
Portion 
insoluble  in 
ammonia- water. 


Composition  per  Cent. 

Silver    ..        ..        ..  , 

Gold  

Copper  ..        ..        ..  , 

Lead 
Iron 

Chlorine 


Chloride  of  Silver 
Protoxide  of  Copperl 
(Black  Oxide)  J 
Chlorine 
Copper  .. 
Sulphuric  Acid 
Carbonic  Acid  1 
Water  f 


Gold  .. 
Silver 

Protoxide  of  Copper 

(Black  Oxide) 
Carbonate  of  Lime 
Silica 

Peroxide  of  Iron 
Alumina 


7160 

0"22 
2'42 

033 
009 

traces 


1998 
056 


0-13 
traces 


7466 


115 


21-97 


C05 

o-o9 
136 

030 


3>6 


9979 


372 


MYCENEAN  METALS. 


The  composition  per  cent,  of  the  metal,  exclusive  of  the  crust, 
as  calculated  from  the  above  analysis,  is  given  underneath  ;  but  it 
certainly  cannot  be  inferred  that  the  original  metal  had  the  exact 
composition  shown  in  that  analysis,  because  some  of  the  ingre- 
dients may  not  have  been  carried  away  during  corrosion  in 
the  same  relative  proportions  in  which  they  were  present  in  the 
original  alloy. 

Composition  per  Cent. 

Silver  ..        ..        ..        ..        ..  95*59 

Gold  ..        ..       ..        ..        ..  0*30 

Copper   3-23 

Lead  ..        ..        ..        ..        ..  0*44 

Iron  ..        ..        ..        ..        ..  0*12 

99-68 

A  portion  of  the  crust  when  heated  in  a  glass  tube  gave  off 
water,  and  the  glass  was  stained  yellow. 

A  portion  of  the  crust  treated  with  dilute  hydrochloric  acid 
effervesced,  the  acid  became  pale  blue,  and  was  found  to  contain 
copper  and  lime. 

The  crust  was  examined  under  the  microscope,  but  no  trace 
of  crystalline  structure  could  be  detected.  A  qualitative 
examination  was  made  of  a  portion  of  the  inner  crust,  from 
which  it  appeared  that  its  composition  was  similar  to  that  of  the 
outer  crust. 


IV. — PORTION  OF  A  BRONZE  SWORD.    (No.  546.) 


The  weight  of  the  specimen,  inclusive  of  the  incrustation,  was 
585  grains  ;  it  was  about  1 J  inch  in  length,  and  varied  from  about 
5-8ths  to  7-8ths  of  an  inch  in  thickness.  A 
sketch  of  a  section  of  the  specimen  is  annexed. 

The  whole  of  the  specimen  was  coated  with 
an  irregular  layer  or  layers  of  matter,  varying 
in  chemical  and  physical  characters  and  in 
thickness.  In  the  centre,  where  the  crust  was 
removed,  the  solid  metal  varied  from  about 
4-8ths  to  5-8ths  of  an  inch  in  thickness. 

One  side    was  chiefly   incrusted  with  ir- 
regular patches  of  dull  earthy  non-crystalline 
matter,  of  varying  shades  of  green  and  brown,  which  were  found 


No.  546. 

Piece  of  a  Bronze 
Sword.    Sepulchre  IV. 

Dimensions  stated  in 
fractions  of  an  inch. 


DR.  PERCY'S  ANALYSIS. 


373 


to  consist  of  green  carbonate  and  oxy-chloride  of  copper  in 
different  proportions  ;  a  few  minute  pale  green  needle-like 
crystals  were  noticed  on  the  other  surface  ;  there  were  also 
observed  irregular  thin  layers  or  patches  of  green  (found  to  be 
green  carbonate  of  copper,  in  some  places  containing  more 
or  less  of  oxychloride  of  copper)  and  blue  crystals  (found 
to  be  blue  carbonate  of  copper)  of  varying  tints  and  lustre. 
One  end  of  the  specimen  was  covered  with  a  dark  green  crust 
with  a  velvety  lustre,  which  was  found  to  consist  of  minute 
transparent  crystals  of  oxychloride  of  copper  ;  the  opposite  end, 
which  was  flat,  and  had  the  appearance  of  having  been  cut  or 
rubbed,  was  chiefly  coated  with  deep  red  non-crystalline  red 
oxide  of  copper  ;  and  a  depression  on  the  surface  was  lined  with 
the  dark  green  velvety  crust  ;  on  the  edges,  where  the  outer 
part  of  the  crust  had  been  broken  off,  was  a  dull  white  opaque 
layer  of  peroxide  of  tin,  and  on  either  side  of  it  were  layers  of 
dark  red  compact  red  oxide  of  copper,  having  cavities  here  and 
there  filled  with  ruby-red  brilliant  transparent  crystals  of  the 
same  substance.  When  the  outer  incrustation  had  been  subse- 
quently removed,  these  substances  were  found  to  extend  more 
or  less  over  the  surface  underneath. 

The  specimen  was  cut  across  in  the  centre  when  portions  of 
the  incrustation  were  detached  ;  by  this  means  the  structure 
of  the  specimen,  and  the  nature  of  the  substances  forming  the 
incrustation,  could  be  well  observed.  The  substances  were 
generally  found  to  occur  in  the  following  order,  from  within 
outwards. 

I.  — Solid  metal. 

II.  — Particles  of  metal  resembling  filings,  tarnished  on  the 

surface,  and  intermixed  more  or  less  with  a  dull 
greenish-grey  substance,  which  was  found  to  contain 
chlorine,  copper,  and  tin. 

III.  — A  pale  green  dull  soft  compact  layer,  which  was  found 

to  consist  chiefly  of  carbonate  of  copper,  containing 
chlorine,  probably  in  combination  as  oxychloride  of 
copper,  and  a  little  peroxide  of  tin. 

IV.  — Red  oxide  of  copper,  varying  in  colour  from  brick-red 

to  dark  red,  compact,  dull  and  opaque,  and  in  part 
crystalline. 

V.  — Peroxide  of  tin  :  examined  under  the  microscope  it  was 

found  to  be  veined  with  minute  thin  layers  of  red 
oxide  of  copper. 


374 


MYCENEAN  METALS. 


VI.  — Red  oxide  of  copper  similar  in  character  to  No.  IV. 

VII.  — Irregular  patches  of  amorphous  and  crystalline  sub- 

stances of  various  shades  of  green,  blue,  and  brown, 
as  before  described. 

The  above  order  of  superposition  was  not  always  observed  ; 
thus,  in  some  places  there  was  a  layer  of  red  oxide  of  copper  in 
No.  III. 

When  the  incrustation  had  been  removed  by  sawing  the 
specimen  across  the  middle,  and  filing,  the  metal  was  found  to 
be  very  sound  and  free  from  cavities.  The  fracture  was  yellowish 
copper  red,  and  finely  granular. 

Portions  of  the  solid  metal  perfectly  free  from  incrustation 
were  selected  for  analysis. 

Composition  per  Cent. 


I. 

II. 

Mean. 

Copper 

..  86-41 

..  86-31 

.  86-36 

Tin  .. 

■•  13*05 

13-07 

I3-06 

Lead 

o-ii 

o-ii 

Iron  .. 

o'i7 

0-I7 

Nickel 

..  0-15 

0-15 

Cobalt 

traces 

traces 

99-85 

The  specific  gravity  of  the  metal  was  8-858  at  6o°  Fahr. 

A  portion  of  clean  solid  metal  weighing  24-811  grains  was 
employed  for  the  experiment. 

The  substances  forming  the  incrustation  could  not  possibly 
be  separated  from  each  other  with  sufficient  accuracy  to  allow 
of  their  being  separately  analysed. 


V.-FRAGMENT  OF  A  BRONZE  VASE-HANDLE. 

Sketches  of  this,  of  the  actual  size,  are  annexed  (Nos.  547- 
549).  It  is  curved,  and  on  the  convex  side  there  are  three  parallel 
indented  lines,  which  doubtless  were  connected  with  ornamenta- 
tion. It  was  everywhere  incrusted  with  the  products  of  weathering 
action.  On  the  convex  surface  the  prevailing  colour  was  green, 
with  here  and  there  patches  of  grey  and  dark  blue  ;  on  the  concave 
surface  the  incrustation  was  much  thinner  and  more  uniformly 


DR.  PERCY'S  ANALYSIS  375 

green.  It  is  quite  impossible  to  describe  accurately  in  words 
these  appearances.    The  portion  analysed  was  freed  by  filing 


Nos.  547-549-    Plan,  side  elevation,  and  end  elevation,  of  a  Bronze  Handle  of  a  Vase. 
Sepulchre  IV.    Actual  size. 

from  incrusting  matter.  This  analysis  was  made  in  the  labo- 
ratory of  the  Royal  School  of  Mines  by  Mr.  W.  F.  Ward. 

Composition  per  Cent. 

Copper   ..        ..  ..        ..  80/69 

Tin        ..        ..        ..        ..        ..  1008 

9977 


This  is  the  most  usual  composition  of  ancient  bronze.  The 
metal  seems  to  have  been  exceptionally  pure. 


VI. — FRAGMENT  OF  A  COPPER  KKTTLE. 

FROM  THE  FOURTH  SEPULCHRE. 

This  specimen  was  in  a  single  piece,  much  crumpled,  irregular 
in  shape,  and  ragged  at  the  edges  ;  it  weighed  about  800  grains, 
and  varied  from  I -25th  to  i-30th  of  an  inch  in  thickness.  There 
were  three  rivets  in  the  metal,  the  ends  of  which  protruded  on 
one  side  to  the  extent  of  about  I -8th  of  an  inch  ;  and  there  was 
one  rivet-hole  without  its  rivet.  After  filing,  the  colour  of  the  metal 
forming  the  rivet  appeared  to  be  the  same  as  that  of  the  sheet 
metal.  There  was  no  trace  of  the  article  which  had  been  attached 
by  means  of  those  rivets.  On  one  surface  the  specimen  seems 
originally  to  have  been  pretty  generally  encrusted  with  blue  and 
green  matter,  between  which  and  the  metal  was,  as  usual,  a  thin 


37^ 


MYCENEAN  METALS. 


coating  of  red  oxide  of  copper  ;  on  the  other  surface,  or  that 
showing  the  protruding  ends  of  the  rivets,  the  metal  was  coated 
first  with  the  red  oxide  of  copper  and  then  with  dark  greenish 
brown  matter,  with  here  and  there  patches  varying  from  light 
green  to  dark  blue  and  dark  green,  especially  round  the  ends  of 
the  rivets. 

Portions  of  the  sheet  metal  were  heated  to  redness  in  a  current 
of  hydrogen,  whereby  they  acquired  a  coppery  colour  and  lustre. 
The  water  evolved  in  this  process  was  found  to  contain  both 
copper  and  chlorine,  thus  indicating  the  existence  of  oxychloride 
of  copper  in  the  incrusting  matter,  a  portion  of  the  subchloride 
of  copper  (cuprous  chloride)  having  escaped  decomposition  by 
the  hydrogen.  A  piece  of  the  metal,  free  from  incrustation,  was 
boiled  in  a  flask  containing  hydrochloric  acid  and  perchloride  of 
iron,  and  the  vapour  evolved  was  passed  into  a  refrigerating 
vessel,  when  a  liquid  was  obtained  in  which  arsenic  was  found  in 
considerable  quantity.  This  process  was  used  for  the  quantita- 
tive determination  of  the  arsenic  as  ammoniacal  arseniate  of 
magnesia,  and  the  result  was  confirmed  by  several  repetitions. 
The  metal  taken  for  analysis  was  that  which  had  been  heated 
in  hydrogen  as  stated  above.  The  analysis  was  made  in  the' 
laboratory  of  the  Royal  School  of  Mines  by  Mr.  W.  F.  Ward. 


Composition  per  Cent. 


Copper  .. 

Tin 

Lead 

Bismuth .. 
Silver 
Iron 
Nickel 
Arsenic  . . 


98-47 
0-09 
o-i6 

traces 
0-013 
0-03 
0-19 
0-83 


99783 


(    377  ) 


INDEX. 


ACHILLES. 


A. 

Achilles  and  Hector,  intaglio  on  gold, 
175- 

Acropolis  ;   citadel  of  Tiryns,  6 ;  of 

Myccna?,  28,  29. 
jEgisthtts,  murder  of  Atrcus  by,  54  ; 

murder   of  Agamemnon    by,   54  ; 

death  of,  55  ;  buried  without  the 

wall,  60. 

Aiirope",  wife  of  Atreus,  legend  of,  5  3. 

Agamemnon,  son  of  Atreus,  48  ;  sepul- 
chre of,  48  ;  murdered  by  /Egisthus 
and  Clytemnestra,  54  ;  h,is  expedi- 
tion to  Troy,  58  ;  his  supremacy  in 
the  Argolid  and  Peloponnesus,  58. 

  and  his  companions,  tombs  of, 

334-337  ;  their  ignominious  burial, 
345-347.  {Comp.  Sepulchres.) 

Agora  of  Mycenae,  39,  338-341  ;  slabs 
forming  its  enclosure  and  bench, 
124,  125  ;  circular  form  of  the  Greek 
Agora,  125,  126;  Royal  Tombs  in 
the  Agora  at  Megara  and  Cyrcnc, 
126-7  ;  Homer's  description  of  the 
heroic  Agora,  338  ;  of  that  of  Troy, 

339  ;  and  of  the  Phaeacians,  339  ; 
age  of  the  Agora  at  Mycenae,  later 
than  the  Five  Sepulchres  within  it, 

340  ;  no  building  within  its  sacred 
enclosure,  341. 

Alabaster :  button  of,  144  ;  hand,  209  ; 
model  of  a  scarf,  242  ;  three-handled 
vase  of,  246  ;  sword-knobs  of  219, 
281,  282  ;  fragments  of  vases,  257, 
308  ;  goblet  of,  317. 

Amber,  beads  of,  203,  245. 

 -,  found  in  Italy  and  Sicily,  204  ; 

mention  of,  by  Homer,  ibid. 

Amethyst,  lentoid  gem  of,  202. 


hoars'  teeth. 


'AfifpiKi  TTt  Wov  (sec  A«'n-at). 

Analysis  of  Mycenean  metals,  367- 

376  ;  argentiferous  gold  foil,  363  ; 

sheet  gold,  369  ;  silvi.  r  vase,  370  ; 

bronze  sword  and  vase-handle,  372, 

375  ;  copper  kettle,  375. 
Archers,  niches  in  walls  of  Tiryns  for, 

5- 

Argion :  first  name  of  the  mount  of 

the  Citadel  at  Mycenae,  36. 
Argolis,  map  of,  1. 

Argos :  road  from,  to  Mycenae,  24; 

plain  of,  described,  25  f.  ;  Achaean 

states  of  Argos  and  Myccnx,  28  ; 

Homer's  use  of  the  name,  37. 
Arm-bone,  with  gold  ribbon,  302. 
Arrow-heads ;  of  bronze,  only  in  the 

upper  strata,  76,  123;  of  obsidian, 

4th  Sepulchre,  272. 
Ashes,  of  burnt   animal  matter,  88  ; 

at  the  foot  of  tombstones,  92,  93. 
Aslerion,  the  plant,  25. 
Atreus,  son  of  I'elops,  53  ;  legend  of 

Atrcus  and  Thyestcs,  53;  killed  by 

>Egisthus,  54.  {Comp.  Treasury.) 
Axes,  of  diorite,  40,  132  ;  double,  as  a 

symbol,  219,  252-254,  357. 

B. 

Battle-axes  of  gold  plate,  252. 
Battle  scene  on  a  ring,  224,  225. 
Beads;  of  glass,  1 1 1,  120  ;  of  lluor-spar, 

120;  of  agate,  201,  202;  of  amber, 

308  ;  of  gold,  361. 
Belt  of  gold,  apparently  for  a  child, 

248. 

Boars'  teeth,  272  ;  used  on  helmets 
and  horse-trappings,  in  Homer, 
272,  273. 


48 


378 


BODIES. 


INDEX. 


CROWNS. 


Bodies  found,  all  partially  burnt  where 
they  lay;  three  in  the  2nd  Sepulchre, 
155  ;  three,  probably  of  women,  in 
the  3rd  Sepulchre,  164  ;  Jive  in  the 
4th  Sepulchre,  228  ;  one  in  the  5th 
Sepulchre,  291  ;  three  in  the  1st 
Sepulchre,  294,  295  ;  one  of  them 
wonderfully  preserved,  296,  297  ;  its 
removal,  298  ;  in  all  15  bodies  in 
the  five  sepulchres,  337  ;  other 
skeletons  of  bodies  not  burnt,  162. 

Bone,  objects  of,  153,  255. 

Bones :  of  animals,  88,  362  ;  human, 
in  all  the  five  Sepulchres,  284  ; 
thigh-bone,  with  greave-ornament, 
in  the  4th  Sepulchre,  230  ;  jaw-bone, 
285  ;  small  bone,  with  gold  ribbon, 
302. 

Bonitza:  modern  name  of  the  Inachus, 
24. 

Bodpis  :  title  of  Hera,  its  significance, 
12,  19  f. 

Borax,  used  for  soldering  gold,  231. 
Boxes;  of  gold,  204,  205  ;  of  copper 

plate,  filled  with  wood,  207,  208  ;  of 

wood,  carved,  332. 
Bracelets  of  gold,  196,  223,  227. 
Breast-plates  of  gold,  found  on  bodies 

in  the  4th  Sepulchre,  228  ;  in  the  1st 

Sepulchre,  300,  301. 
Bronze  :  male  figure  of,  at  Tiryns,  14 ; 

objects  of,  in,  112;  weapons  of, 

279-283,  299,  303,  306  ;  of  Mycenae 

and   Troy   compared,    369.  {See 

Analysis.) 
Brooch  of  gold,  193. 
Buildings,  Cyclopean,  at  Mycenae,  40. 
Burial  with  treasures,  344-349. 
Butterflies  of  gold,  165,  176  ;  perhaps 

a  symbol  of  immortality,  166. 
Buttons;  of  gold,  152;  of  wood,  plated 

with  gold,  4th  Sepulchre,  258-262  ; 

of  gold,  1st  Sepulchre,  305,  321-327  ; 

of  bone,  1st  Sepulchre,  329. 

C. 

Caldrons  of  copper,  215. 

Cans  of  copper,  274. 

Cassandra,  tomb  of,  and  her  twin-sons, 

Teledamus  and  Pelops,  59. 
Cephisus,  the  river,  25. 


Chariots,  sculptured,  on  tombstones, 
80-85  ;  true  form  of  the  Homeric, 
84. 

Charvati,  village  of,  with  the  ancient 
quarry  of  Mycenae,  117. 

Children  :  objects  found  in  the  3rd 
and  4th  Sepulchres,  indicating  the 
burial  of  two  or  three,  198,  247,  248, 
337  ;  in  accordance  with  the  tradi- 
tion, 39. 

Cicada;  (crickets  or  tree-hoppers)  of 
gold,  176  ;  their  significance,  ibid. 

Cisterns  at  Mycenae,  141. 

Clay,  baked  and  glazed,  ornaments  of, 
1 10,  11 1. 

 ,  white,  the  bodies  in  the  Royal 

Sepulchres  covered  with  a  layer  of, 
214,  295,  337. 

Clytemnestra,  seduced  by  yEgisthus, 
murders  Agamemnon,  54  ;  is  killed 
by  Orestes,  55  ;  buried  with  ^Egis- 
thus  outside  the  wall  of  Mycenae, 
60. 

Cobalt  glass,  tubes  of,  like  the 
Egyptian,  157. 

Coins,  copper,  of  Macedonian  age, 
found  at  Tiryns,  15  ;  of  Argos, 
found  at  Mycenae,  63,  64  ;  none  of 
Roman  or  Byzantine  times,  64  ; 
none  of  Mycenae  itself,  ibid. 

Column  of  porphyry,  96,  97. 

Comb;  of  clay,  78  ;  of  gold,  203. 

Copper  :  a  fork  and  another  object  of, 
255  ;  vessels  of,  273-274,  331  ;  their 
use  as  ornaments  of  houses,  284  ; 
medium  for  plating  gold  on  silver, 
158.    {Comp.  Analysis.) 

Cork,  pieces  of,  332. 

Cow-heads :  of  terra-cotta,  on  handles 
of  vases,  104,  105  ;  the  great  one  of 
silver,  with  golden  horns,  215  ;  of 
gold  plate,  with  double  axes,  218. 

Cows,  of  terra-cotta,  found  at  Tiryns, 
10  ;  idols,  in  the  form  of,  at  My- 
cenae, 73, 74.  {Comp.  Hera  Boopis.) 

Cremation,  partial,  of  all  the  bodies  in 
the  royal  sepulchres,  155  ;  officially 
authenticated,  214. 

Crosses  of  golden  leaves,  156,  189-192. 

Crowns  of  gold,  found  with  the  bodies 
in  the  3rd  Sepulchre,  184  ;  in  the 
4th  Sepulchre,  228. 


CUPS. 


INDEX. 


GOLD. 


379 


Cups j  of  gold,  24r,  313,  354;  of  ala- 
baster, 317.    (Comp.  Goblets.) 

Cuttle-fish  of  gold,  165,  268. 

Cyclopean  Walls:  their  name  and 
nature,  3,  4  ;  three  forms,  29,  30  ;  of 
the  citadel  of  Tiryns,  the  most  an- 
cient monument  in  Greece,  2,  9 ; 
house-walls  at  Tiryns,  9  ;  of  the 
citadel  of  Mycenae,  4,  29  ;  substruc- 
tions and  house-walls  at  Mycena?, 
31,  42,  79,  80,  99,  123,  130 ;  de- 
struction of  portion  of,  116;  water- 
conduit,  141  ;  tower,  147. 

Cylinders  of  gold,  251,  286,  287,  320, 
32i. 

D. 

Daggers  of  bronze,  163  ;  ivory  handle 

of  one,  329. 
Debris:  at  Tiryns,  19;  at  Mycenae, 

42  ;  in  the  Acropolis  of  Mycenae,  62  ; 

over  dromos  of  Treasury  near  Lions' 

Gate,  103  ;  in  the  same  Treasury, 

141. 

AfVnr  u\i(\MK\m(KKov  ( two  -  handled 
goblet)  :  several  of  tcrra-cotta,  115, 
116  ;  several  of  gold,  231,  235,  237, 
35°)  352  ;  the  true  form,  not  that 
supposed  by  Aristotle,  1 1 6,  237  ; 
none  such  found  either  at  Troy  or 
Mycena.1,  238. 

Diadems  of  gold,  found  with  the 
bodies:  in  the  2nd  Sepulchre,  155, 
156  ;  in  the  3rd  Sepulchre,  186-189  : 
in  the  4th  Sepulchre,  246,  247  ;  two 
of  these  small,  as  if  for  children, 
ibid.;  in  the  5th  Sepulchre,  291. 

Diomedes,  King  of  Argos,  under  Aga- 
memnon, 58. 

Disks  of  gold,  319.    {Comp.  Plates.) 

Dorians,  invasion  of  the,  55  ;  early  date 
of,  344. 

Dragon  of  gold,  with  scales  of  rock- 
crystal,  287. 

Dromos,  or  approach  to  the  Treasury 
of  Atrcus,  43  ;  to  the  Treasury  near 
the  Lions'  Gate,  103-107. 

E. 

Earring  of  gold,  142. 
Egyptian  glass,  157  ;  porcelain,  objects 
of,  242,  330. 


/■Stones,  the  port  of  Mycenae,  58. 

Eleutherion,  the  river,  25. 

Elias,  chapel  of,  at  Tiryns,  4  ;  chapel 

of,  on  Mt.  Eubcea,  above  Mycenae, 

26,  145-147. 
Emperor  of  Brazil's  visit  to  Mycenae, 

144,  145- 

Eubwa,  Mount,  above  Mycenae,  25, 
26  ;  ascent  of,  145  ;  Cyclopean  re- 
mains on,  probably  a  sanctuary  of 
the  Sun-god,  146-7. 

Euripides  visited  Mycena;,  38;  his 
knowledge  of  the  Acropolis,  the 
Agora,  and  Royal  Palace,  341,  342. 

Excavations  :  at  Tiryns,  beginning  of, 
9 ;  of  the  Treasury  of  Atreus,  by 
Veli  Pasha,  49,  50  ;  at  Mycenae,  in 
1874,61  ;  at  Mycenae,  in  1876,  62; 
panoramic  view  of,  before  the  dis- 
covery of  the  Tombs,  148-9. 

F. 

Eis/i  of  wood,  129. 

Flagons  (oivo\6ai)  ;  of  gold,  233  ;  of 

silver,  243. 
Flowers,  golden,   165-167,  172,  173, 

262. 

Flute,  found  at  Mycenae,  77,  78,  79. 
Fork  of  copper,  for  stirring  the  funeral 

fires,  255. 
Fountain  of  Pcrscia  at  Mycena*,  59. 
Frieze  of  marble,  141. 

G. 

Galleries  in  the  Walls  of  Tiryns,  51. 

Gate,  the  eastern,  of  Tiryns,  5  ;  of  the 
Lions  at  Mycena;  (see  Lions' 
GATE)  ;  the  postern,  at  Mycenae, 
35.  36. 

G*ll,  Sir  William,  cited,  44. 

Glass,  fabrication  of,  only  in  its  begin- 
ning at  the  age  of  the  tombs,  158. 

Goblets,  of  tcrra-cotta,  at  Tiryns,  16  ; 
at  Mycenae,  70;  two-handled,  115, 
116;  black,  154  ;  of  gold,  204,  231- 

240,  3'4,  352-353 1  of  silvcr>  3'4- 
Gold.  The  objects  are  described  under 
their  several  heads.    The  quantity 
found  in  the  sepulchres  amounts  to 
about  100  lbs.  troy. 


38o 


GORDON. 


INDEX. 


MASKS  OF  GOLD. 


Gordon,  Gen.,  his  fragments  of  bronze 
nails  and  plates  from  the  Treasury 
of  Atreus,  45  n. 

Grasshoppers,  golden.   {See  Cicada.) 

Greaves  of  warriors  on  a  painted  vase, 
134  ;  gold  ornament  of,  230,  328. 

Greco-Phoenician  Period  of  Art,  after 
about  B.C.  800,  98  ;  the  sculptures 
of  Mycenae  anterior  to,  ibid. 

Griffins,  of  gold,  177  ;  legend  of  the 
griffin  of  Indian  origin,  177,  178. 

H. 

Hatchets ;  of  stone,  76  ;  of  bronze,  in, 
112. 

Hellenic  House,  foundations  of,  12 1. 
Hera  Boopis,  note  on,  19-22, 
Herman,  the  great  temple  of  Hera, 

near  Mycenae,  20,  59,  362,  364. 
Hercules  and  the  Nemean  Lion,  gold 

ornament,  with  intaglio  of,  173. 
Highway  from  Mycenae  to  Tiryns,  42. 
Horse-trappings,  ornaments  of,  153, 

273  ;  described  by  Homer,  273. 
Hunters  in  a  chariot,  on  a  signet-ring, 

223  f. 

I. 

Ialysus,  in  Rhodes  ;  objects  found  in 
a  tomb  there,  resembling  those  at 
Mycenae  :  terra-cotta  vases,  65  ;  cow- 
idols,  73  ;  whorls,  77  ;  painted  pot- 
tery, 138 ;  terra-cotta  goblets,  of 
same  pattern  as  Mycenean  gold 
goblets,  234. 

Idols,  terra-cotta,  at  Tiryns,  10,  11,  12, 
13,  14  ;  similar  to  those  at  Mycenae, 
12  ;  at  Mycenae,  13,  71,  72,  73  ;  in 
"dromos"  before  Treasury  near 
Lions'  Gate,  103-107. 

Inachus,  the  river,  24,  25. 

Inscriptions,  signs  resembling,  114; 
Greek,  115. 

Iron  keys  and  knives,  probably  of  the 
later  age  of  Mycenae,  75. 

Ivory,  objects  of,  152,  153,  161,  162, 
329 ;  stained,  for  horse-trappings, 
273- 

J- 

Jar  of  crystal,  299,  300. 
Jasper  weight,  100. 


K. 

Kettles.    {See  Copper.) 

Keys  of  bronze,  lead,  and  iron,  74,  75. 

Knives  of  obsidian  at  Tiryns,  18  ;  of 
bronze  and  iron  at  Mycenae,  74,  75, 
76,  in,  112,  158;  of  obsidian,  158. 

L. 

Lamps,  unknown  to  Homer,  and  never 
found  at  Troy,  Tiryns,  or  Mycenae, 
50. 

Lances  of  bronze,  278  ;  mode  of  fasten- 
ing to  the  handle,  ibid. 

Lead,  found  at  Tiryns,  14 ;  a  large 
quantity  at  Mycenae,  77. 

Leake,  Col.,  quoted,  5  n. 

Leaves  of  Gold,  strewn  all  about  the 
4th  Sepulchre,  and  even  below  the 
bodies,  266. 

Legend,  of  the  crimes  of  the  Pelopids, 
53,  54  ;  of  the  Trojan  War  and  the 
fate  of  Agamemnon,  the  author's 
faith  in  it  led  to  the  discovery  of 
Troy  and  Mycenae,  334  f.  ;  confir- 
mations of  its  veracity,  337. 

Lentoid gems,  112,  113,  114,  202,  252; 
bought  of  peasants  in  Chonika,  362, 
364- 

Lids  of  boxes   and  vases  of  gold, 

fastened  on  by  gold  wires,  206,  207  ; 

of  bone  for  jars,  256. 
Lion  of  gold,  361. 
Lion  cub  of  gold,  251. 
Lions'  Gate  at  Mycence,  4,  32,  33,  34, 

35  ;  plan  of,  34  ;  excavations  at,  121, 

122,  123. 

Lower  City  of  Mycena,  39,  40  ;  Cyclo- 
pean bridge  at,  39  ;  Treasuries,  39. 
Lyre  of  bone,  77,  78,  79. 

M. 

Masks  of  gold:  a  child's,  in  the  3rd 
Sepulchre,  198  ;  on  the  faces  of  three 
bodies  in  the  4th  Sepulchre,  219- 
221  ;  a  fourth  like  a  lion's  head, 
beside  another  of  the  bodies,  222 
{Cut,  p.  211)  ;  discussion  of  burial 
with  masks,  222,  223  ;  on  two  of  the 
bodies  in  the  1st  Sepulchre,  311, 
312  {Cuts,  pp.  289,  333). 


MEDALS. 


INDEX. 


REMA. 


38l 


Medals.    (See  Coins.) 

Mcgapenthes,  son  of  Prcctus,  Tiryns, 

ceded  to  Perseus  by,  6. 
Metals,  found  at  Tiryns,  only  lead  and 

one  bronze  figure,    14  ;   found  at 

Mycenae,  74,  75,  77. 
Moulds,  for  casting  ornaments,  108, 

109. 

Mure,  Col.,  cited,  45  n. 

Mycena,  arrival  at,  24  ;  importance  of 
excavations  at  the  capital  of  Aga- 
memnon, 28  ;  topography  of,  24  f.  ; 
Acropolis,  28  f.  ;  the  lower  city,  39  ; 
the  suburb,  40  ;  confused  with  Argos, 
36-38  ;  history,  53  f.  ;  decline,  56  ; 
besieged  by  the  Argivcs  and  Cleo- 
neans,  56 ;  its  surrender  and  de- 
struction (B.C.  468),  56,  57  ;  Homeric 
epithets  of  Mycenae,  57  ;  remains 
described  by  Pausanias,  and  true 
interpretation  of  the  passage,  59,  60, 
335  ;  shafts  sunk  in  1874,  61  ;  ex- 
cavations begun  in  1876,  ibid.  ; 
its  re-occupation  unknown  to  the 
ancients,  63. 

N. 

Nails,  bronze,  in   the   walls  of  the 

Treasury  at  Atrcus,  for  holding  the 

lining  plates,  44. 
Needle  of  ivory,  153. 
Nestor's  goblet,  in  Homer,  compared 

with  one  found  in  the  4th  Sepulchre, 

235-237- 

O. 

Orestes  kills  ./Egisthus  and  Clytcm- 
nestra  ;  probably  the  last  of  the 
Pelopid  dynasty  at  Mycenae  ; 
reigned  in  Arcadia  and  Sparta,  55. 

Oyster  shells,  found  in  1st  Sepulchre, 
332- 

P. 

Painted  vases.  (See  Pottery  ; 
Vases.) 

Palace :  Cyclopean  house-walls,  sup- 
posed to  be  the  Royal  Palace  of 
Mycenae,  130  f.  ;  the  substructions 
probably  supported  a  wooden  build- 
ing, 288. 


Palaocastron,  the  modern  name  of 
Tiryns,  2. 

Pausanias,  his  description  of  the  tombs 
of  Agamemnon  and  his  companions, 
59  ;  general  misunderstanding,  and 
true  meaning,  of  the  passage,  60,  61, 
et  passim. 

Pebbles,  layers  of,  below  and  above  the 
bodies,  to  aid  in  ventilating  the 
funeral  pyres,  and  bearing  marks  of 
fire,  in  all  the  Sepulchres,  155,  164, 
213,  214,  291,  294,  337- 

Pelopids,  dynasty  of  the,  at  Mycenae, 
54,  55  ;  its  probable  end  under 
Orestes,  ibid. 

Perseus,  builder  of  Mycenae,  6,  53  ; 
Tiryns  given  to  Electryon  by,  6 ; 
his  dynasty,  53. 

Pigeons  of  gold,  on  the  heads  and  arms 
of  female  figures,  180  ;  on  the  handles 
of  a  goblet,  236  ;  on  a  model  of  a 
temple,  267. 

Pins  of  gold,  4th  Sepulchre,  249,  250. 

Plates,  large,  thick,  round,  of  gold, 
with  patterns  in  repousst' work,  below, 
above,  and  round  the  bodies  in  the 
3rd  Sepulchre,  165  f.  ;  in  the  1st 
Sepulchre,  318,  319  ;  smaller  round 
plates  of  sword-sheaths,  219,  302- 
303  ;  quadrangular  plates  with  in- 
taglio work,  302,  303,  308-31 1. 

Plundered  body  in  1st  Sepulchre,  295. 

Porter's  lodge  at  Mycena.',  62. 

Pottery,  Tirynthian  archaic,  14,  15,  16, 
17  ;  Mycencan  painted,  6;,  66,  67, 
68,  69,  120  ;  geometrical,  ioj  f.,  120, 
141  ;  hand-made  and  wheel-made, 
137,  '58.  '59>  '60,  210,  340,  &c. 
(Comp.  Terra-Cottas.) 

Pra-tus,  the  founder  of  Tiryns,  6. 

Q- 

Quarry,  of  Tiryns,  4  ;  of  Mycena:,  at 
Charvati,  41,  117. 

R. 

Rapier-like  swords,  4th  Sepulchre,  2S3. 
Ribbons  of  gold,  249,  327. 
Rema,  modern  name  of  the  river  Cha- 
radrus,  24. 


382,  RESERVOIRS. 


INDEX. 


SWORD-HANDLES. 


Reservoirs,  twelve  in  the  Acropolis  of 
Mycense,  80,  99,  100,  \\j  n. 

Rings,  of  bronze,  plain  and  engraved, 
142  ;  of  gold,  plain  and  ornamented, 
250,  353,  354  ;  of  silver,  ibid.  {See 
Signet-rings.) 

Rock  crystal,  objects  of,  200,  210 ; 
polished  segment  of  a  sphere,  213. 

Royal  tombs.    (See  SEPULCHRES.) 

S. 

Sardonyx,  lentoid  gem  of,  202. 
Scales  of  gold,  197 

Sceptres,  of  silver  plated  with  gold, 
201  ;  rock-crystal  knob  of  a  sceptre- 
handle,  200;  handles,  251  ;  splendid 
handle  of,  a  sceptre,  286,  287. 

Sculpture  on  tombstones  at  Mycenae. 
(See  Tombstones.) 

Seal-rings;  of  bronze,  142;  of  silver, 
203.   (See  Signet-rings.) 

Sepulchral  Slabs,  or  Stclce.  (See  TOMB- 
STONES.) 

Sepulchres,  the  Royal,  at  Mycenae  ; 
described  by  Pausanias  from  tradi- 
tion only,  59,  102  ;  their  position  in 
the  Acropolis  unique,  101  ;  tradi- 
tional reverence  for  them,  337,  343  ; 
their  site  indicated  by  tombstones 
renewed  from  time  to  time,  as  they 
got  covered  with  debris,  101  f.,  337, 
341  ;  the  sacred  Agora,  erected  as  an 
enclosure  round  them,  in  honour  of 
the  deceased  heroes,  probably  when 
the  monuments  were  renewed,  128, 
129,  340  : — discovery  of  the  First 
Sepulchre,  151  ;  work  interrupfed, 
1 54 ;  resumed,  293  ;  the  sepulcnre 
described,  294  (comp.  BODIES)  :  — 
discovery  and  description  of  the 
Second  Sepulchre,  154;  —  of  the 
Third,  161  ;  —  of  the  Fourth,  212  ; 
— of  the  Fifth,  290.  Evidence  of  the 
simultaneous  burial  of  the  bodies  in 
each  sepulchre,  and  probably  in  all, 
336 ;  agreement  of  the  sepulchres 
with  the  tradition  of  the  burial  of 
Agamemnon  and  his  companions, 
Chap.  X.  passim. 

Shoulder-belts,  of  gold,  in  the  4th 
Sepulchre,  243,  244  ;  one  with  a 
piece  of  a  bronze  sword  attached, 


1st  Sepulchre,  298,  299;  too  slender 
to  have  been  ever  used,  300. 
Signet-rings :  one  of  white  onyx,  en- 
graved in  intaglio,  in  the  supposed 
Royal  Palace,  131,  132  ;  two  of  gold, 
with  intaglios  of  a  stag-hunt  and 
a  combat,  4th  Sepulchre,  223-227  ; 
too  small  for  any  but  female  fingers, 
227  ;  two  of  gold,  with  wonderful 
symbolic  intaglios,  from  the  tomb 
south  of  the  Agora,  354-360  ;  cor- 
respondence of  the  first  to  a  scene 
in  Homer's  "  Shield  of  Achilles," 
359,  36o. 

Skeleton  of  a  man,  found  at  Tiryns, 
18  ;  skeletons  above  the  3rd  Se- 
pulchre, 164. 

Slabs,  double  parallel  circle  of,  87,  88. 
(See  Agora.) 

Spiral  ornamentation,  characteristic 
of  Mycenean  art,  82,  99,  et passim. 

Stag,  of  silver  and  lead,  257. 

Stilce,  sepulchral.    (See  Tombstones.) 

Sthenelus,  son  of  Perseus,  53. 

Stilettos  of  opal,  for  needlework,  143. 

Stone  bench  round  the  Agora.  (See 
Agora.) 

Stone  implements,  none  at  Tiryns,  14 ; 
at  Mycenae,  76 ;  knives  and  arrow- 
heads of  obsidian,  158,  272 

Streets  of  Mycenae,  57. 

Suastika,  the  sign  pj-j,  77,  165. 

Suspension,  vases  with  tubular  holes 
for,  found  at  Mycenae  as  well  as 
Troy,  158. 

Swords  of  bronze :  two-edged,  from 
the  (supposed)  Royal  Palace,  144  ; 
a  heap  of,  in  4th  Sepulchre,  with  the 
gold  ornaments  of  their  handles  and 
sheaths,  219;  46  more  in  4th  Se- 
pulchre, 278  ;  10  of  these  short  one- 
edged,  279  ;  two-edged,  with  a  ridge 
on  each  side,  gilt,  studded,  and  other- 
wise ornamented,  280-283,  302-304, 
306,  307  ;  their  extreme  narrowness, 
and  the  enormous  length  of  some, 
283,  3°4- 

Sword-handles,  wooden,  gilt,  and  orna- 
mented with  gold-plates,  studs,  and 
nails,  219 ;  covers  of  gold-plate 
belonging  to,  269-271,  305  ;  knobs 


SWORD-SHEATHS. 


INDEX. 


WEAPONS. 


383 


of  alabaster,  219,  281,  282;  one 
plated  with  gold,  richly  ornamented, 
and  containing  a  piece  of  the  bronze 
sword,  307,  308. 

Sword-sheaths,  wooden,  remains  of, 
and  the  golden  plates  that  orna- 
mented them,  219,  303,  305  (com/>. 
PLATES  of  Gold)  ;  pieces  still  on 
swords,  281  ;  of  linen,  traces  of, 
adhering  to  swords,  283. 

Sword-tassel  of  gold,  304. 

T. 

Telegram  to  the  King  of  the  Hellenes 
and  His  Majesty's  reply,  365. 

Temple  of  gold,  model  of,  267. 

Terra-cottas :  vases,  Tirynthian  ar- 
chaic, 17  ;  archaic  at  Mycena:,  51, 
64,  65,  66,  67,  68  ;  compared  with 
those  at  Ialysus,  65  ;  figure  of  a 
woman,  73  ;  tripods,  69,  143,  158  ; 
vessels,  209  ;  cows  and  a  cow-horn, 
143  (comp.  Cows  ;  Idols)  ;  objects 
found  in  2nd  Sepulchre,  1 59  ;  vases  in 
3rd  Sepulchre,  210;  in  4th  Sepulchre, 
241  ;  goblets,  285,  286. 

Thyestes,  brother  of  Atreus,  legend  of, 
53- 

Tiryns :  excavations  at,  1  ;  site  of,  2  ; 
Pausanias  on,  2  ;  Cyclopean  walls 
of,  2,  4,  5  ;  rock  of,  4  ;  founded  by 
Prcctus,  6  ;  conquered  and  inhabited 
by  Hercules,  6 ;  destroyed  by  the 
Argives,  7  ;  plain  south  of,  8. 

Tombs.    (See  Sepulchr es.) 

Tombstones,  or  sepulchral  stela,  sculp- 
tured and  plain,  in  the  Acropolis  of 
Mycenae,  above  the  Royal  Sepul- 
chres :  the  1st  sculptured,  80  (Cut, 
p.  52)  ;  the  2nd  sculptured,  82  ;  the 
3rd  sculptured,  88  ;  the  4th  sculp- 
tured, 90  ;  5  plain,  92  ;  several  frag- 
ments of  sculptured,  92-96  ;  they  all 
mark  the  site  of  tombs,  100  (comp. 
Sepulchres)  ;  plan  of,  in  the  ist 
Sepulchre,  151  ;  plan  of,  above  the 
3rd  Sepulchre,  161  ;  two  plain  above 
the  5th  Sepulchre,  291. 

Tongs  of  iron,  144  ;  of  silver,  308. 

Treasures :  of  the  Pelopids,  48  ;  enor- 


mous in  the  Royal  Sepulchres,  337  ; 
custom  of  burial  with,  344-349. 

Treasuries,  in  the  suburb  of  Mycenae, 
underground  and  dome -shaped, 
called  "ovens"  ((frovpvoi),  41  ;  one 
near  the  Lions'  Gate,  ibid.,  excavated 
by  Mrs.  Schliemann,  102,  118,  140  f.  ; 
two  smaller  ones,  41  ;  of  Atreus,  42  ; 
commonly  called  the  "Tomb  of  Aga- 
memnon," 49  ;  compared  with  that 
of  Minyas  at  Orchomenus,  45  ; 
arguments  for  their  being  treasuries, 
47,  48  ;  a  sixth,  close  to  the  great 
Herasum,  59  (comp.  Flan  D). 

Tripods;  of  copper,  137, 277  ;  of  terra- 
cotta (see  Terra- cottas). 

Trojan  War,  the  Author's  faith  in  the, 
led  to  his  discoveries,  334,  335. 

Tubes;  of  gold  plate,  203  ;  of  gold,  1st 
Sepulchre,  305  ;  of  bone,  ist  Se- 
pulchre, 329. 

V. 

Vases,  of  tcrra-cotta  :  one  with  female 
breasts,  259  ;  of  crystal,  78 ;  of 
silver,  158,  160,  210,  308,  316;  of 
gold,  206 ;  of  alabaster,  245  ;  of 
Egyptian  porcelain,  292.  (Comp. 
Terra-Cottas.) 

Vessels:  household,  at  Tiryns,  15  ;  of 
gold,  207  ;  of  copper,  274-276  ;  of 
terra-cotta.   (See  Terra-cottas.) 

W. 

Wages  of  workmen  at  the  excavations, 
87. 

Walls,  Cyclopean,  3,  4,  5,  29  f. ;  of 
Tiryns,  2,  9  ;  of  Mycena;,  4,  29,  30, 
31,  40,  87,  88  ;  of  Treasuries  lined 
with  bronze  plates,  44,  45  ;  inner, 
of  the  Royal  Sepulchres,  bearing 
marks  of  tire,  155,  213,294;  none 
in  the  5th  Sepulchre,  291. 

Warriors,  armed,  on  a  painted  vase. 
I32-I34- 

Water-conduits,  Cyclopean,  at  Tiryns, 

9  ;  Cyclopean,  at  Mycena:,  80,  141. 
Wealth  of  Myccnie,  57. 
Weapons  of  bronze,  278-280,  291,  307. 


3^4 


WEIGHT. 


INDEX. 


WRITING. 


Weight,  of  jasper,  100. 
Wells  of  Mycenae,  41. 
Wheels  of  chariots  on  sculptures,  with 

four  spokes,  84  ;  small  bronze  wheels, 

1 1 1  {Cut,  p.  74)  ;  of  gold,  203. 
Whetstones,  286,  332. 
Whorls :  of  stone,  at  Tiryns,  18  ;  of 

stone  and  terra-cotta  at  Mycenae,  77  ; 

whorl-shaped  object  of  gold  plate, 

268. 

Wire,  gold,  142,  354  ;  used  for  fasten- 


ing on  lids  of  boxes  and  vases,  206, 
207. 

Wood :  objects  of,  1st  Sepulchre,  332  ; 
quantity  of,  in  a  copper  box,  207, 
208  ;  piece  of  cypress,  332  ;  half- 
burnt  pieces  in  4th  Sepulchre,  ibid.; 
various  objects  of  wood,  ibid.  {Comfi. 
Boxes,  Buttons,Sword-handles, 
Sword-sheaths.) 

Writing  unknown  at  Mycenae,  so  far 
as  the  excavations  shew,  336. 


THE  END. 


Plate  A. 


Terra-Cotta  Cows  and  Idols  found  at  Tiryns 

Siz  e  3  f 


Plate  B. 


Terra-Cotta  Idols  from  Mycen/e 

Actual  Size 


Plate  C. 


Fig.  m.  5M 


Terra-Cotta  Idols,  Cow,  &.c  from  mycen/e 

Actua-l  Siz  e 


Plate  D. 


Fragments  of  terra- Cotta  Cow-headed  Idols,  from  Mycen/e 

Actual  Size. 


PLATE  VIII 


PLATE  IX. 


No.  38.    (6  m.)  No.  39.    (6  M.) 


Nos.  35—39.    Fragments  of  Painted  Vases  from  Mychme. 
Some  actual  size,  and  some  r  educed. 


PLATE  X. 


Nos.  40—47.    Fragments  of  Paintkd  Vases  from  Mycen>e. 
Some  actual  size,  and  some  reduced. 


PLATE  XI. 


Nos.  48—54.    Fragments  of  Painted  Vases  from  Myci  n. v.. 
Some  actual  size,  ntui  some  reJuceJ. 


PLATE  XII. 


Nos.  55 — 61.    Fragments  of  Painted  Vases  from  Mycbma 
Some  actual  size,  and  some  reduced. 


5° 


PLATE  XIII. 


No.  65.    (4  M.) 

No.  67.    (5  M.) 


Nos.  62  — 67.    Fkacments  ok  Painted  Vases  fkom  MyciNA 
Some  df/uii/  sizi;  ami  temt  rdiuted. 


I 


PLATE  XIV 


Nos.  71  and  73.    (5  m.) 


Fragments  of  Painted  Vases  from  Mycen;e. 
Some  actual  size,  and  some  reduced. 


Xo  78 


Nos.  73—78.   Fragments  of  Painted  Vases  from  Mwen.i-. 

Some  actual  size,  and  some  reduced. 


5» 


Nos.  c>4  <)S.   Tkrra-Cotta  [dols.    Actual  w, 


PLATE  XVIII. 


i.  103— no.  Terra-Cotta  Idols.   Actual  mm, 


PLATE  XXI. 


s.  198-204.    Fragments  of  Painted  Pottery  from  the  approach 
the  Treasury  near  the  Lions'  Gate.  Half-size. 


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Facade,  Plan,  and  Section  of  the  Treasury  near  the  I.iuns'  Gate. 


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